Baby Tarpon immediately take flight when hooked, contorting and shaking their head, rattling their gill plates, and rolling their bodies around trying to throw that hook out of their mouth.  The challenge is to keep the fish on by "Bowing to the King" or lowering or pointing the rod tip at the fish when the fish jumps.  This rod tip action will play enough slack into the line during the jump to keep the fish hooked.  Failure to "Bow" will often result in the hook dislodging itself from the bony mouth of the Tarpon, due to the tension on the line and the shaking of the fish.

I am often asked if Tarpon can be caught year 'round in the Keys.  The answer is yes!  Baby Tarpon (5 to 30 pounds) are always available around channel creeks, mangrove creeks, small mangrove island troughs, and bridge channels.  The larger Tarpon (40 to 200 pounds) begin migrating into the Keys waters during the winter (December-January) and continuing throughout the spring, climaxing in April, May and June with herds of large Silver Kings roaming the flats.

When the large Tarpon jump, it is imperative to "Bow to the King", lowering your rod tip to introduce some slack into your line so that the tension of the fish shaking his head will not break the line or pull the hook out of the Tarpon's mouth.  The tendency for novice Tarpon anglers is to rear back when the fish jumps, and this action is usually the kiss of death.  Listen to your guide, follow his instructions, and you will have success with the Silver King of the flats!