Has it been done? Sure, but it's hard for someone who hasn't been there to understand why they can't wade, float tube, or whatever like they do up north, and catch a tarpon on their own. Come down and hire a guide, and once you're out on the water and catch one, you'll have a better understanding why you can't do it on your own.

Next to proper leader construction, getting within casting distance without spooking your quarry is the biggest problem facing fly rodders trying to catch a tarpon. In the Florida Keys, tarpon follow known routes, and there are many places you can anchor up and just wait for them to swim past your boat, while in other areas, your guide will have to silently push-pole his boat within casting range.

Once you acquire the knack of spotting tarpon and see how they move along their underwater trails you'll have a better understanding how and why your guide positions his boat, allowing you to cast as they approach your position. The guide will almost always use his push pole when in the vicinity of tarpon. If he tries to approach them too closely with his gasoline engine, they will be alerted to your presence, and your chances of getting close enough for a cast are almost non-existent.

With the rising popularity of tarpon fishing in the Florida Keys, it's often necessary to book popular guides during May and June a year or more in advance, and some guides will even require a deposit to hold your time period. Below you'll see a list of the guides I recommend:

Islamorada

David Borras 305-852-8400

Rob Fordyce 305-248-6132

Tad Burke 305-852-0739

Bruce Stagg 305-853-5818

Marathon

Bruce Chard 305-872-4996

Tim Hoover 305-743-7352

Jake Jordan 305-743-0501

Greg Poland 305-743-6567

Key West

Dexter Simmons 305-745-3304

Vaughn Cochran 305-745-2425

Jack Kelly 305-294-2189

Sean O'Keefe 305-296-4637

Mike Vaughn 305-745-2800