Tarpon Fishing in the Florida Everglades
It is all about the migration…
It has been scientifically proven during the spring thousands of tarpon pass through the Florida Everglades. Stopping to rest and feed before continuing their migration to Boca Grande to spawn. In the fall they head back south to the Everglades once again to feed before completing their journey back to the Atlantic, Caribbean and beyond for the winter.
Tarpon in the Everglades average 60 to 120 pounds with fish as big as 150 to 180 pounds are not uncommon.
In other words, for tarpon fishing in the months of May, June, September and October, the Everglades is the place to be.
The Florida Everglades is the largest sub-tropical wilderness area in the United States. Hundreds of miles of mangrove shorelines, backcountry creeks and jungle rivers, it’s vast expanses and diverse terrain is a fisherman’s paradise. The Florida Everglades is the only place in the state to find tarpon in an un-pressured and natural state on a regular basis. The lack of boat traffic and fishing pressure is a tarpon fisherman’s dream.
The relentless pursuit of these magnificent fish has been my lifetime passion.
Although my fascination for these fish started in my childhood, I have been guiding full time since 1992.
For over 30 years I have made a full time living catching tarpon away from the crowds.
This is big game fishing at it’s finest. Explosive strikes, powerful runs and acrobatic jumps make the tarpon the ultimate light tackle saltwater challenge. The “Silver King” is truly a fish that lives up to it’s reputation.
Out of respect for my quarry, I would never kill a tarpon for any reason. I go to great lengths to ensure a safe release on each and every fish. Even our photos are taken with the fish still in the water. I feel conservation is key to having a sustainable fishery.
During the ’09 season I started tagging tarpon for the Florida Wildlife Research Institute’s Genetic Recapture Program. Not only was I recognized as the top fishing guide in ’09 and ’10, but I broke every record for numbers of tarpon tagged by a fishing guide in a single year, two years in a row. Almost doubling the numbers of my closest competitor. Even with my limited participation in the program in 2011, I tagged/sampled more tarpon than anyone on the West Coast of Florida.
Every photo on this website was taken on my boat in just the last couple seasons.
The hardest part of building this website is choosing from the thousands of unbelievable photos my wife Jenni takes every season.
Over the last 27 years, Jenni’s unique ability, timing and eye for perfection through the lens has burned onto film what I feel words alone can not express.
For me it is all about the tarpon…it always has been…
For Information and reservations:
Captain Mark Bennett
(941) 474-8900
For more info on tarpon fishing in the Boca Grande/Charlotte Harbor area:
