The FINal - #2 Tarpon vs. #13 Roosterfish

[CanoeGuy]

Its East vs. West

The Atlantic vs. Pacific

The big minnow vs. the big chicken

I have been here before. For my son's high school graduation we gave him the choice of a baby tarpon trip to the Yucatan vs. a roosterfish (and all kinds of other cool stuff) trip to the East Cape. Yes, this was also a gift to myself . A bunch of pics from that trip:

East Cape Baja - 2020

Anyway, back to the Battle Royale - #2 Tarpon vs. #13 Roosterfish.

From the pristine babies




to monsters from the beach




or the boat



just undeniably cool fish!



Who you got?

 

[dbaken]

Two great fish for sure. Tough to pick.

 

[Chucker]

I have fished for both, and had much more fun with tarpon than with roosters.

 

[ifsteve]

The best tarpon fishery is a very safe place to travel to.

 

[clarkman]

honestly, I'm a little surprised that roosters made it this far (maybe they had an easier bracket, I dunno)....this one is easy for me. 13 seed all the way!

I've never caught a Tarpon, and really don't care....probably in the minority there. Then again, one shouldn't be surprised considering that majority of my preferred local fishy targets don't get nearly the pressure that say, trout of steelhead get.

 

[DimeBrite]

honestly, I'm a little surprised that roosters made it this far (maybe they had an easier bracket, I dunno)....this one is easy for me. 13 seed all the way!

I've never caught a Tarpon, and really don't care....probably in the minority there. Then again, one shouldn't be surprised considering that majority of my preferred local fishy targets don't get nearly the pressure that say, trout of steelhead get.

You need to fish for tarpon!

 

[DimeBrite]

Stalking big roosters from the beach sounds really fun to me, I need to do this soon. Plus it is a closer flight to home.

Tarpon are great because they provide many different fly angling opportunities. Juvenile tarpon are an excellent place to start with 8-9 weights (fun sight fishing and terrific jumps). Fishing muddy water adult tarpon in river systems and estuaries is fun, but a bit less exciting since it is rarely sight fishing. I do really enjoy targeting tarpon from the beach though, it is the only way to feel the true power and explosiveness of these fish. Sight fishing for adult migratory tarpon on crystal clear flats is a great challenge and very fun. It takes some patience and skill though to get good at it. Some of the most enjoyable tarpon fishing I've done is for actively feeding 40-70 pound tarpon on the inside turtlegrass flats. Fast action and the fight takes less time before hooking the next fish.

 

[ifsteve]

You need to fish for tarpon!

Shut your mouth. Nobody should ever ever ever fish for tarpon. In fact, basket weaving would be a much better alternative. Or skydiving, or golf, or tennis, or claming, or.....just stay the heck away from the tarpon flats.....LOL

 

[clarkman]

Shut your mouth. Nobody should ever ever ever fish for tarpon. In fact, basket weaving would be a much better alternative. Or skydiving, or golf, or tennis, or claming, or.....just stay the heck away from the tarpon flats.....LOL

you and @DimeBrite have convinced me....

***googling best Tarpon fly fishing locations now

 

[Shad]

I think you should call it a draw and do both!

 

[Matt B]

Today I bought my plane tickets for my late May trip to Florida for grown ass tarpon. My first time trying for the big ones. The small ones in the mangrove backcountry were great fun the one time I tried that.

I caught some roosters off the boat out of Cabo. It was fun but it wasn’t my favorite day of fishing. I also caught a lot of Sierra mackerel and a couple other jacks. I know there are better days and times and perhaps even better locations.

But adult tarpon has been where my head is at. It doesn’t hurt that my FIL has an “in” with a local and makes a yearly trip.

 

[CanoeGuy]

I think you should call it a draw and do both!

Trust me. I will.

 

[albula]

I've been lucky enough, due to a fortuitously chosen profession, to have been able to fish all over the planet with a fly rod for many incredible fish. If there is anything that matches standing on the back of a small flats skiff and seeing a string of some 100 large tarpon slowly winding towards you in 4 feet of crystal clear water over a light sand bottom I have not yet discovered what it is. Especially with a good friend on the bow who has never caught one. You never know exactly what is going to happen but you can be assured it will always be memorable.

 

[ifsteve]

Since I have also been blessed to have fished all over and for lots of different species I get asked a lot, "if you had one day left on earth and the good Lord said you could have an epic day of fishing for whatever fish you want what would you choose."

Without hesitation, I always say tarpon.