The Best Lure To Catch Juvenile Tarpon (Even If They're Being Picky)

[@Saltstrong]

To see exactly where I was fishing, click here to join us in the Insider Club and get access to our Insider Reports: bit.ly/2CwQFwB

[@anthonykutey1686]

Great info for us freshwater guys making the transition!!

[@Desconhecido1975]

Another factor that has an influence on back water Tarpons, is the lures size. I noticed that they often prefer smaler (2-3 inches) than the bigger ones. Greetings from Brazil !

[@johnmoore3504]

They are tarpon so whatever you are doing is wrong... but it might have worked yesterday LOL. I rate tarpon as the most difficult inshore bite. It takes so much luck to draw a strike and keep them hooked, super frustrating. I’ve been surrounded by rolling fish that refuse every lure and tactic known to man. Other days they bite whatever you’ve got (super loud topwaters midday in gin clear water? Sure why not) but jump off before you can say “fish on”. I’d put together a video of all the tarpon I’ve lost but it would way too depressing. Tarpon often require live bait as nothing else will work plain and simple.

[@nickleback3695]

Are tarpon good fighters?

[@captainahab2581]

Finally an honest man on youtube, I admire that. I’ve got a long running bet, LAND a tarpon on a lure, from shore (only way I ever fish em), no leader grab only a legitimate dehooking counts, $1 per cast lure of choice as many different lures they want to use at a loaded spot that has resident fish year round. I’m always willing to stay until they make 1,000 casts. I’ve never lost. Rarely do they ever get a strike, when they do the fish lethargically flails and misses the lure, almost never making a second effort for it. So predictable for me as I’ve put in hundreds of hours at this spot and many others nearby. But I take them all to the one that holds the most fish more often than not. At that particular spot there are only a handful of live and dead baits that will work and certain exact areas they must be placed in order to get one to eat. Many times I will see these clowns come back to that spot in their boats, wasting their time and effort. Most people these days don’t want to throw a cast net for real bait because they’ll get their expensive fishing costume dirty. There are situations and certain spots where I will use a small jig and do well. Those situations all have a few factors in common, a lot of active adult size fish, feeding on very small baits, and competing heavily for food. Those are migratory fish, and they’re on a mission to feed and load up for the spawn. There is so much garbage ‘info’ online about tarpon fishing with a very few facts mixed in here and there. These people are recalling their banner days in peak season with hordes of hungry fish, when everyone is the expert. They won’t be getting them on a consistent basis early or late in the year. They can only get when the getting is good and won’t fish them through winter when times get hard and the fish are more sluggish and only eat a few times a week. In my many years of tarpon fishing there is one thing I have learned and learned well. Leader diameter or material does not matter one darn bit. It’s all about the bait. I’ve hooked many in the past using single strand malin wire. Have never used fluorocarbon a day in my life, never will. Because the mono with the correct bait will outfish invisible sewing thread with the wrong bait. I don’t even use ‘leader material’ either, just regular mono fishing line you’d put on the spool. Which leads me to another thing I’ve learned very well, the fishing industry is a money grabbing scam.

[@gisellesbikeseat]

​@@captainahab2581fishing costume 😂

[@Desconhecido1975]

So true !

[@MJ-km3qz]

This video had me crushing the Tarpon in the mosquito lagoon area this season. Thank you!

[@conradt8076]

That Tupperware for the gulp lures is genius

[@Desconhecido1975]

Are you keeping your soft lures watered in the tackle box ? Do i noticed that correctly ?

[@mhnyc]

What are you holding the gulp in?

[@mhnyc]

Any luck on the answer here? Was it Tupperware? My Plano containers keep breaking.

[@Desconhecido1975]

​@@mhnyc, he's certainly talking about the liquid in the lures box. Have a closer look and you see them swimming. It might be water, i guess.

[@tystick22]

The 2in gulp shrimp has been my go to...going to try these...I have noticed in deeper water if I see the tail of the tarpon when they roll I drag the bottom to get a hook up if it's a slow roll I do a steady retrieve..but more often than not juvies have a mouth full of mud when they get to the boat...tells me they are feeding on the bottom.

[@nicstr28]

Love me some Tony! I'm old school and picky about who i fish with or take fishing. Tony can come anytime 👍

[@tonyacevedo3149]

Haha, thanks!

[@alabamasmokeywilson6818]

Great Videos. Great advice for us freshwater guys that are making the transition. Loved your bait catching video the other day. I learned a lot in a few minutes

[@saul78oldrite]

Beautiful fish! Congrats!

[@redtruckrunning6]

What pound test are you using for the leader?

[@brandongra1014]

What rods are you using??

[@mikestrong3910]

Do you have luck with other types of soft plastics not gulp? I just lose too many to pinfish and other trash fish

[@Saltstrong]

Yes, we've had great results with Slam Shady paddletails. Here's a fun video showing them in action with tarpon and snook in the backcountry: www.saltstrong.com/articles/backcountry-snook-tarpon/

[@philippiansfourfour1081]

Any small jig works that somewhat resembles the resident baitfish they’re feeding on, there isn’t one brand that is better than another. Personally I prefer cheap ones from Walmart. Too bad that dump can’t ever keep their shelves stocked anymore.