Already made up my mind that the next guided saltwater trip I take will be for tarpon. Can anyone recommend the best location, time of year, and guide for a tarpon trip (not fly fishing)?

A great place to tarpon fish and avoid the crowds is off the Space Coast. Give Capt Jim Ross a call.

https://finelinefishingcharters.com

Key West , April or May, Easy fishing ,
You can be fishing and catching 10 minutes from the Dock.
Grouper , Permit , and snapper are by catch. I have caught 14 species in one 8 hour trip.

On one trip , I was 8 for 12 on Tarpon in a day and a half fishing,

Mo

Who do you recommend Mo?

I am going the end of this month with https://www.galvestonfishingguides.com/ Guide Mike Williams
Iron-man trip. I will post the results.

Looking forward to hearing about It!

I would like to hear a report on that trip also.


MO

The Captain I used retired and moved to California. Do your research , some Captains there give boat rides , and work thru the
hotels and cruise ships , don't care about repeat business. There are some hard working Captains that do care about
putting fishing on the line.

I could pass along some recomendations , but they would be second hand , PM if you want

MO

That’s the problem I’ve found all over Florida....weeding through the guides that are just catering to tourists and use cheap gear, put you on the easiest way to fish, and assume you are a newbie.

Go to Islamorada, Florida in April, May or June. I have used Rick Cannon out of Robbie's Marina and have always caught fish with him. Most of the guides that target tarpon should be able to get you fish at that time of year. Check their websites and photos. Be ready for a long fun fight. Tarpon are amazing and at that time of year it is not unusual to catch one over 150 pounds.

I would reconsider this guide. I just booked a trip with him and he wanted us to meet him at the boat slip at 0645 hrs. We got there at 0630 and there was no boat. I called him and he stated his capt was getting fuel.
I waited approx 25 min and still no boat. Called him back and was told his capt. took the wrong group out. He stated that they were already too far out and would not be coming back.

First of all I booked the trip with Capt. Mike Williams not another guide that worked for him (wanted a Tarpon trip). Secondly, either Mike Williams didn't relay the group info to his captain or his captain didn't check to ensure he
was taking the correct group. I decided to go out with the guide that was without a group (since they got on the wrong boat) and Mike Williams got ticked off saying I couldn't go out with another captain as he wouldn't be responsible.

When we got back in to the dock, I called the captain on Mike Williams boat and requested him to meet me at the dock to refund my deposit. He called back with a really poor attitude and I then called Mike Williams to discuss how my deposit would be refunded
and he denied all responsibility and fault. In fact he blamed the captain I ended up going out with (he had nothing to do with this situation). Capt. Mike Williams was extremely difficult to work with and had very bad customer service. I got the impression
he really didn't give a da*m about his customers at all.

www.laruesguideservice.com
This is who I recommend.

https://m.facebook.com/patriotguideservice/videos/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0


Click the link above and scroll over to the 5th video. we shot some video of one of our days but also has plenty of other trips and videos.

First day at Port Oconnor Tx we smashed big bull reds and jacks all day and then a few trout for dinner, second day we fished for short reds and trout for the cooler till the tide shifted and then we went for the tarpon, landed 7 and thought we had a great day. I think we Landed 22 tarpon third day when we shot some video and don’t know how many hookups too many to count. Several doubles and a Tripple as well.

Derick Will let you know when the bull reds and the tarpon are consistent and you can try to head down. It’s 6hr drive from Dallas so it’s pretty easy, Clark’s has great accommodations if you want to stay a night or two, gear is top notch and he will get you on the fish. Texas Gulf tarpon been pretty strong last several years. They might still be around if you want to call him, but I think they leave this month. And I added a bonus photo of a good state waters snapper for your viewing pleasure.

Patriot Guide Service.... 210-414-4843

Popped down to the Texas gulf at Port Oconnor for two days fishing with Patriot guide service again oct 8-9 and the redfish bulls an keeper reds are still really good, trout were slow. Heading from one of spot to another we saw some tarpon rolling. Tied up a fresh hook, pegged the minnow on and tossed it out.

First bite about 5 minutes later three jumps and ripping line off that 7’ light trout rod and the first bite was soon gone breaking the line. Didn’t have any bigger tackle with us as we were targeting trout as I was wanting some for the freezer. Retied a new leader and back in...15 min later and second tarpon on. This one in the photo only jumped once and after about 40 minutes and several long runs that made me nervous watching the spool get thin I had her in. We saw several schools that afternoon, but only one group would bite for us.

They should be around another three or four weeks if you looking for a quick easy drive to the gulf and maybe get on one of these, it’s a rush the power of these fish and fight they give you. You can spend all kinds of money traveling all over, OR just pop down to the gulf and spend the money on the water chasing fish and not on the travel.

Man... that's looks like an awesome trip. Two day quick trip and you hit it good! I never get that lucky