Of all the fish in Grand Cayman, Tarpon may just be the one which surprises anglers the most. It’s no secret that this silver prize lives in abundance on the reefs, but few visitors know you can also tackle Tarpon in the canals and landlocked waters. If you are looking to go above and beyond, consider Tarpon fishing in Grand Cayman for an unexpected adventure.

When to Target Tarpon

The Tarpon in Grand Cayman are biting all year, with a peak season in late summer. You can find Tarpon near reefs and on the flats, making it possible to target these hard-fighting fish without straying far from shore. Some restaurants along the wharfs even feature Tarpon feeding as an attraction!

What gets local anglers really excited are the juvenile Tarpon in the island’s backwaters and canals. While these fish typically don’t weigh more than 15 lbs, they put up a spectacular fight on light tackle. You can also target these specimens in Tarpon Pond, a land-locked lake which captures the attention of many fly fishermen. The best time to fish here is in early morning or late afternoon.

How to Target Tarpon

You can target Tarpon in Grand Cayman by casting small, yellow bucktails or floating plugs (again, morning and dusk produce the best bite). When fly fishing for these Tarpon, chugging a popper or bass-bug along the surface works well. But take note: these fish bite hard and will wreck a standard tippet in the blink of an eye. It’s wise to have about a foot of 25 lb fluorocarbon as a bite tippet.

Some locations where you can enjoy fishing for Tarpon are North Coast, South Sound, and Frank Sound. Grand Cayman fishing charters will take you to these locations and many others, by boat or by wade fishing.