The Tarpon fishing is year-round
at our lodge at Monkey River.

There are few places that you have the chance to fish for Tarpon in so many varied environments. The flats, reefs, jungle rivers, deep holes around the mangrove islands and the mangroves themselves all hold Tarpon during some parts of the year and in some weather conditions. There are even some secret places that we only fish when someone "just needs a Tarpon" for a Grand Slam.

Since the lodge is right by the Monkey River, you can fish the river early for Tarpon, have breakfast, and still hunt Permit when the tide is right during the day.

The big schools start moving in early spring and the Tarpon fishing really peaks in the summer and early fall months. But the rest of the year is good. The fishing on Deep River and Monkey River offer a unique opportunity to get yelled at by troops of Howler monkeys while you are casting to a rolling fish. The river fish can go from a modest 10-40 pounds to over 100 pounds, while the fish in the holes and around the mangrove cayes tend to be bigger. The Tarpon are always around, and it offers a nice change of pace from chasing Permit.

You need some of the darker black, black, brown, and red Tarpon fly patterns for the rivers. They tend to have darker water. The brighter patterns may be better in the clear flats, and channels. Count on using floating and sinking line depending on the location and how deep the fish are. Spin fishermen will want some of the swimming lures and jigs, (Mirror lures, Rapalas, Bombers are the right direction.)

You can have the opportunity to fish for Tarpon in two or three tropical rivers as well as at the river mouths and around some of the mangrove cayes. All the Tarpon spots are near the Permit flats and are close to our Monkey River Retreat lodge.