Tampa Bay Tarpon Fishing Charters

If you’re looking to battle the legendary Silver King, our Tampa Bay tarpon fishing charters put you in position during peak migration and summer feeding patterns. From the beaches of St. Petersburg and Clearwater to the passes of Anna Maria Island and the bridges of Tampa Bay, we specialize in targeting giant tarpon in prime season.

Tarpon fishing is not just another charter — it’s a bucket-list experience. Explosive jumps, drag-screaming runs, and 100+ pound fish are what we chase every season.

Our tarpon trips are designed for serious anglers who want a real shot at trophy fish during Florida’s most exciting fishery.

When Is Tarpon Season in Tampa Bay?

Tarpon season in Tampa Bay typically runs from April through July, with May and June being peak migration months. During this time, large schools of tarpon move along the beaches, passes, and bridges, offering anglers consistent opportunities at trophy fish.

As summer progresses, tarpon begin staging around passes, deep channels, and structure like the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Water temperature, tides, and moon phases all play a role in positioning these fish — and local knowledge makes the difference between seeing fish and hooking them.

Where We Fish for Tarpon in Tampa Bay

We target tarpon throughout the Tampa Bay region, including:

• Pass-a-Grille Channel
• Sunshine Skyway Bridge
• Anna Maria Island beaches
• Fort De Soto
• Egmont Key
• Tampa Bay ship channel

These areas consistently hold migrating and resident tarpon throughout the season, depending on tides and bait movement.

What to Expect on a Tampa Tarpon Charter

Tarpon trips typically run 4–8 hours depending on conditions and angler preference. Most tarpon range between 80 and 150 pounds, though larger fish are caught each season.

On a typical day, we may hook multiple fish. Landing ratio depends on fight conditions, but shots at tarpon are common during peak season.

Fights can last anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour depending on fish size and angler experience. We focus on fighting fish efficiently to ensure a healthy release.

All tarpon are strictly catch and release in our fishery.

By focusing on these times, locations, and knowledge about tarpon behavior, you’ll greatly increase your chances of experiencing the thrill and fight that comes with catching one of these remarkable Florida tarpon. Whether you’re venturing out on your own to fish for Tarpon or you’re looking to book with a local Florida Tarpon guide, we’ve got you covered.

Tampa Tarpon Fishing Charters FAQ

If you’ve ever dreamed of catching a fish that weighs as much or more than you do, that leaps into the air, that screams drag and leaves you exhausted but grinning ear to ear when the fight is finally over… then tarpon fishing is for you.

When is tarpon season?

I run tarpon fishing charters in May, June, & July.

Where do I tarpon fish?

I run tarpon fishing charters out of O’Neill’s Marina in St. Petersburg, FL.

How many people can go on a tarpon fishing charter?

1-3 anglers is ideal. A 4th angler per boat is discouraged but doable. If 4 anglers go on one trip, all 4 anglers may not fish at the same time.

How many tarpon can you expect to catch?

Average tarpon charters hook between 5 and 7 fish. We usually land about half as many as we hook. Some days we hook as many as 20 fish and some days it’s just a few. Very very rarely do we ever get skunked and we have shots at plenty of tarpon on about 99.9% of charters.

What’s the average size of the tarpon?

Our average fish have gotten bigger and bigger since catch and release has been strongly adopted by nearly all tarpon anglers. Most tarpon we hook are between 80lbs and 120lbs. We usually hook a few each year nearing 200lbs.

How long does it take to land a tarpon?

Every tarpon has a different attitude. Some jump a lot and some don’t jump much at all. Some make long runs and some just “bulldog” you. The average fight with a 100lb tarpon is between 20 minutes and 30 minutes but I’ve seen some fights go as long as an hour. We try to land fish as fast as possible to ensure the fish can be quickly revived (and also that you don’t get worn slap out). So, I’ll give you pointers during the fight and how we can “whip” the fish as fast as possible.

Can we bring a tarpon into the boat for a picture?

No. To preserve our fishery and to obey the law, we must keep the fish at least partially in the water. We pull fish alongside the boat for pictures. The pictures actually come out very nice this way. When conditions allow we will get a photo with your fish from the beach, if we can do so without harming the fish.

What does it mean to “reach” to a tarpon when it jumps (a.k.a. “bowing to the king’)?

When a tarpon jumps, we want to reach the rod towards the fish to give it slack. The helps us keep the fish from pulling the hook or breaking the line. This is counter-intuitive to most freshwater anglers and can take a few fish to get used to.