Banana River Tarpon Guide

Fishing for Silver Kings on the East Coast of Florida

Feeling a jumping and thrashing tarpon on the end of a rod & reel is and exciting way to spend an afternoon fishing on the Banana River Lagoon. Join Captain Richard Bradley on his home waters between Cocoa Beach and Merritt Island hunting for and catching the mighty silver king of the shallow water flats, beaches and backwater canals in East Central Florida.

Tarpon are one of the most sought out species of game fish in the world. During the summer and fall, tarpon can exceed 100 pounds in the Banana River Lagoon and near the beaches adjacent to the Cocoa Beach Shoreline. Once hooked a tarpon can over power young anglers to the point of pinning lighter people to the rail of the boat. Fortunately the Banana River tarpon are not often over 30 pounds but a whopper can come along at any moment during the warmer months!

We find that tarpon can make an appearance at almost anytime in the lagoon and it's best to target them with at least 12 pound test for most anglers. A beach tarpon in excess of 80 pounds may not be landed on less than twenty pound test unless the angler is well experienced and versed at landing large fish. Most larger fish are caught adjacent to the Banana River on Cocoa Beach just 45 minutes from the Orlando International Airport.

Smaller tarpon can be caught year around in the backwaters and flats of the Banana River Lagoon when there's plenty of bait around. Many of our anglers bring fly rods and their favorite tarpon flies to temp a strike from one the silver king of the flats in East Central Florida's Banana River Lagoon.

Tarpon fishing in East Central Florida are an opportunity fish which means they don't show up on demand. "Our tarpon are not dependable like they are in the keys or in Boca Grande, " explains Captain Richard. "The trip with the anglers above happens about one in five trips during the summer off Cocoa Beach and but there's always fishing action for other species. Laura and her husband caught tarpon, sharks, king mackerel, cobia and bonito in a half day trip. You can expect great fishing action even if the silver king does not make his showing."

January Banana River Fishing Forecast

January is a great time of year on the Banana River Lagoon as the winter has set in and the spotted sea trout a redfish are in their colder water patterns. You'll find fish in and around deeper water canals where they can sink into the stable cold water during the coldest fronts and then slip out onto the shallow flats for warmth and feeding between fronts. Typically the better fishing can be in the Thousand Island area and northward into the No Motor Zone during January. January can be one of the calmest times of the year as the winter doldrums can have crisp cold temperatures in the morning and nice balmy days by afternoon. January is why we live in Florida...

To find out more information about taking a fishing guide service on the Banana River Lagoon, please at (321) 868-4953 or fill out the request form above and Lagooner Fishing Guides will be prompt to respond.