UTERTarpon fishing in Indian River Lagoon
In Indian River Lagoon, tarpon peak June–September and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Fish rolling in the Banana River and the Indian River Lagoon and off the Canaveral beaches on the pogy pods.
The last of the run; fish leaving south with the mullet.
Tarpon in Indian River Lagoon, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot hereSpring peak on the lagoon; cobia and kings off Canaveral. Trout and reds on the flats early; cobia on the nearshore rays and buoys; kings on the Canaveral reefs; the first tarpon at Ponce.
- MayArrivingFirst fish in the Indian River and at Ponce and Port Canaveral.
- JunePeakFish rolling in the Banana River and the Indian River Lagoon and off the Canaveral beaches on the pogy pods.
- JulyPeakLagoon tarpon busting bait in the deeper water all day; beach fish on the pogies.
- AugustPeakFish at Canaveral and Ponce on the bait; the first mullet schools late month.
- SeptemberPeakThe mullet run: tarpon on the beach blitzes and at the inlets.
- OctoberLeavingThe last of the run; fish leaving south with the mullet.
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish tarpon near Melbourne, Cocoa, Titusville
Mosquito Lagoon, the Banana River and the northern Indian River Lagoon — shallow, clear, grass-and-sand flats famous for sight-fishing tailing redfish and giant trout — plus Port Canaveral and Ponce Inlet, the beaches, and the nearshore reefs.
Fish Scouter charts 48 bridge, 11 beach / surf, 3 pass / inlet spots in the The Space Coast Lagoons map area — the kinds tarpon hold on.
What to use for tarpon
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Finger mulletLip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum.
- PinfishHooked through the back ahead of the dorsal on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook; the small ones free-lined, the big ones on a fish-finder rig.
- Leader50–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook5/0–8/0
- Jig head1–1 1/4 oz
- Braid40–65 lb
Feeds in 74–90°F water, best at 78–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch tarpon in Indian River Lagoon?
Peak season is June–September. Tarpon are in Indian River Lagoon May–October. June: Fish rolling in the Banana River and the Indian River Lagoon and off the Canaveral beaches on the pogy pods.
Where do tarpon hold in Indian River Lagoon?
Look on pass / inlet, beach / surf, bridge, channel edge — around Melbourne, Cocoa, Titusville, Port Canaveral, New Smyrna Beach.
What is the best bait for tarpon in Indian River Lagoon?
Live bait: blue crabs, threadfin herring (greenbacks), pilchards (whitebait), finger mullet. Blue crabs: Whole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 50–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 5/0–8/0, jig head 1–1 1/4 oz, braid 40–65 lb.
What are the rules for tarpon in Indian River Lagoon?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
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