I am getting the urge to try fishing for Tarpon and/or Bone fish. Have always fished fresh water and thinking about a small change.
Where do I start. What kind of gear is needed. I was thinking Florida but really don’t know enough about it.
Would like to hear some ideas.
Thanks and Merry Christmas
Well…good equipment and perfect Casting is a Must!! Good luck~
Charlotte Harbor is a year round tarpon fishery, even if bonefish are only an incidental catch around here. Try http://www.chff.us/Links.html 
Orthoman
2 books you might want to look into, one for bones and one for tarpon:
Fly Fishing for Bonefish by Dick Brown is a good overview of tactics, gear presentation and flies, as well as various destinations (Keys, Bahamas, Belize etc.)
and Tarpon On Fly by Don Larmouth and Rob Fordyce which is primarily written for sight casting to tarpon in the Keys. It covers gear, tactics, rigging, fighting fish. In the interest of full disclosure, Rob is a guide in the Keys, and I?ve fished with him several times. He is an excellent guide and specializes in tarpon.
For bones you have a lot of options in terms of where to go. Fish in the keys tend to run large and get pounded. Other locations might be easier for your first trip.
For tarpon, there are also a few options, but sight fishing in the Keys is tough to beat, with Islamorada in May and June being a prime location, perhaps June being the better month for a first timer (less wind). These are big tough fish that will test gear to the limit.
There are many places where you can catch both tarpon and bones and maybe even have a shot at permit on the same trip, but you might be best off planning around one species for location and timing and concentrate on them.
Some things to consider
Casting- SW is a different ballgame. You?ll want to be able to double haul, and be able to deliver a fly a minimum of 60 feet to a specific spot with a minimum of false casts in wind. If you can start with 15 feet out of the tip and throw a full line with 3 backcasts without wind, you?ll probably be in pretty good shape in SW. Casting huge isn?t always necessary, but can improve your chances— the main thing it does is allow you to cast in wind?someone that throws forty feet on a trout stream with no problem may not be able to get the fly out of the boat throwing into a 15mph wind.
Gear- quality gear is a good idea, and critical for tarpon- For large tarpon 100+, a 10 weight is the minimum, with 12 weights much more common. There is considerable difference between the actions of many 10?s and a 12?s, If you are going to the Keys, you can use the guides gear if you arrange in advance to make sure he/she has it in the boat if you don?t want to shell out the bucks for a complete 12 weight outfit that may have limited use for other fishing. If you want to spring for an outfit, look for a decent rod and solid reel- Tibor Gulfstreams and Charleton Makos etc are typical, and for less money an older school, heavier Pate Tarpon would be a good choice and you can sometimes find good deals on used ones.
For bones an 8 or 9 weight outfit is typical, a good reel is a big plus.
For both tarpon and bones you?d want a quality tropical fly line (like SA Bonefish/Tarpon Mastery), and floaters would be used the most (exclusively with bones, most often for tarpon), with an intermediate for tarpon being a distant second in most places.
By far the best way to catch these beasts is to have a good guide. You?ll be paying a lot, but you?re paying for their knowledge of tides, fish movements over vast flats, their ability to spot fish, rigging (you can trust their knots) and their ability to position the boat for your best shot. It is well worth the investment. I would try and plan a trip with several days of guided fishing (splitting the cost with another person if you want). This will allow you to build on skills learned each day, spotting fish and casting mostly, and give you some flexibility with weather.
It?s a blast and you will have a ball. Good luck!
peregrines
What I would do is get in touch with some guides and ask them how to start.Tarpon are not a “small change” from fresh water fish.I wouldnt buy any equiptment for now.Use what the guide has.They have the necessary rods and reels and it will be rigged correctly.Once you have some experience,then buy the gear you want,but start by talking to some guides.
Thanks for the info – hope to also hear from others.
I get all excited just reading the posts.
Merry Christmas to all.
Everything they said is true—quality gear—use the guides gear —a top shelf new outfit without flies will be $1300.00. Hire the best guide that you can—that will run around 500-650/day—the difference is it will increase your chances. Borrow a rod and work with it for a while before your trip—a 12 wt rod will fatigue anyone that isnt used to it. I havent caught a tarpon in the last 2 trips but I keep going back —its awesome stuff.
it all depends how high your budget is.
Last April I was at the lovely island of Eleuthera, and had a great time there.
No Tarpon spotted alas, but plenty of bones.
We stayed at the Ducks-inn in Gouvernors Harbour, highly recommended.
The owner, John Duckworth is a very helpfull guy, he will provide you with maps and loads of info on where to go.
The fact that he has many retrning guests says it all.
There is a guide available on Eleuthera, John Petty, best advise is to book him in advance, as he is booked most of the time, wich says enough I think.
Should you seek a destination with a great night-life, night-clubs etc, Eleuthera is not the place to go. Should you search for a place with tranquility and laid-back living… I would seriously consider…
Cheers, Hans
For bonefish in the Continental U.S., you can try Biscayne Bay or the Florida Keys. If you choose the Keys, you should headquarter around Islamorada. That’s the best area. Bones are spread throughout the Keys, but the numbers are in the mid to upper islands.
For tarpon, you might want to try the Sarasota area on the Gulf Coast. Good numbers of fish from June through early July. I like fishing “after the season ends.” Most guides quit taking clients out after July 1. So, there is little pressure in July.
What we like to do is stake out on a shoal. Fishing in 4 or 5 feet of clear water is a blast. Doesn’t take long to figure out where the fish are entering the shoal. You can then adjust your location and you’ll likely have a fairly easy.
I’ve been very successful with this technique for the past two years.