Fall tarpon run

Fishing Report: Fall tarpon run begins

By JOHN PREEG (Contact)
12:00 a.m., Thursday, October 9, 2008

NAPLES — This area’s spring tarpon run is world famous, as the tarpon move in along the coast and up to Boca Grande Pass for the yearly spawn. What many people don’t realize is that there is also a fall migration, and that seems to have started this past week.

Every fall, balls of glass minnows gather along the beaches, and the tarpon move in under them for an easy meal. These fall tarpon are not typically as large as the spring fish, but many are in the 100-pound range, and they are more aggressive. These fish are here to feed and get fat before the winter, and, consequently, they are much more likely to take a bait or lure.
Right now, there are schools of fish in the North Naples area from Wiggins Pass to Sanibel Island, and more tarpon schooled south of Marco Island from Round Key all the way to Flamingo. These Ten Thousand Islands tarpon are congregating in the river and creek mouths on the outgoing tide, and it seems that the further south that you go, the more and the bigger the fish. This weekend, the area from Lostmans River to the Broad River should be very productive.
How long these tarpon will remain in the area is uncertain. Tarpon are an unpredictable species, but most likely, there will be good tarpon fishing right up until the first strong cold front pushes them offshore.