Tarpon can be one of the most exciting fish to catch for an angler. Tarpon get most of their fame from their gigantic size and fantastic leaps and jumps when hooked. Tarpon, however, are also known to be the most frustrating fish for an angler, as they typically break themselves free as the jump through the air. Tarpon have even been known to jump on trees, the banks and even into boats. Tarpon are also referred to as the Silver King for their metallic shine when swimming through the water.

The Perfect Rig

When tarpon fishing, the rig and its specifications are crucial, as to overcome to fish's tendency to literally fly off the line. An angler should take about 7 feet of line, 80 pound tinsel strength, coupled with a size 9 circle hook. Anglers can go smaller are larger on the hook size, depending on the size and type of bait that will be used.

The Best Hook Solution

I recommend using circle hooks when you are out tarpon fishing. Circle hooks have a tendency to catch a fish in the corner of the mouth. This is not only good for the angler, as the tension remains in the correct place, but for the fish as well. When picking the size of the hook, be sure to consider the bait you will utilize.

Bait Choices

There are a number of good options to use for tarpon bait. Tarpon have a tendency to bite better at night, and this means a good bait choice are creatures that tend to come out a night. Tarpon love crabs, pinfish and live mullet. However artificial bait can also be utilized.

In Summary

Tarpon can be one of the most rewarding and damning fish an angler can battle. Be prepared to lose a fish or two in the quest to catch one of the silver kings. Despite their frustration it's important to remember an angler will never forget his first tarpon.

When angling for bottom fish, grouper fishing is the most popular sport fishing in the western hemisphere. Because there are so many different types of grouper, fishing for them can be good all the way from the New England states, through the Gulf of Mexico, and down to Brazil. You'll find red, yellowfin, black, gag, and Warsaw grouper to choose from along many coastal regions, and it's rare that there is no abundance of the species. However, beware of the strength and cunning of these fish.

First, you must know a little about bottom fishing, and then plentiful grouper fishing opportunities will follow. Start with a fifty-pound test monofilament line. This will handle just about any grouper that you can possibly encounter. Anything larger becomes a hassle and is also a bit too visible to your target fish. Use a terminal tackle - a sinker, leader, and hook configured with a bank sinker on the end of the leader and a 12-inch-long loop tied abut 18 inches up from there onto which the hook is tied.

When grouper fishing, it is also wise to understand the habits of the grouper. These fish are commonly found around bottom structures of almost any kind, though they do have preferences, especially in certain areas. For example, in southern Florida, grouper fishing will be most productive around the tropical coral reefs. In the northern shores of the state, you'll find grouper in and around bottom ledges, as well as in artificial reefs and wreckage. The like shelter and a place to hide, and though you might think differently because of their name, grouper are very solitary fish, especially the larger ones.

Though you might find that grouper fishing can be accomplished through waiting for the fish to chase the bait, this is most often not the best tactic. Grouper prefer to ambush their prey as it passes over their hiding places. Because the grouper can change its coloration to match the hues of its surroundings, much like a chameleon, they blend in easily and have an advantage over unsuspecting prey. However, their tendency to rush the bait makes grouper fishing a simple task in terms of hooking a fish, though a bit difficult in terms of actually landing the catch.

Grouper fishing is best accomplished by using bait that is natural to the grouper's feeding habits. In open waters, grouper feed on other smaller fish, crabs, crawfish, other small crustaceans, and squid. Most of the time, you will find grouper waiting in a hole or under a ledge until an easy catch comes by, at which time they will attack, eat quickly, and return to the shelter. Free-lining live bait, straight bottom fishing, and slow trolling are the most successful approaches to grouper fishing, with trolling being the best option for the Gulf of Mexico.

The 1975 Steven Spielberg movie "Jaws" famously warned beach-goers to stay out of the water for fear of sharks. But what if the hunter becomes the hunted? Shark fishing is a challenging sport for the enthusiastic angler.

Much of the appeal of shark fishing lies in the prospect of bringing home a trophy fish of an impressive size. Before setting out, the fisherman will want to ensure that all the proper gear is packed. This includes appropriate bait, such as mackerel. Additionally, it's important to have tackle that will support a shark's weight, which will often exceed 300 pounds. Wire cutters, floats and chum bags are all important items to have if you are fishing for sharks from a boat.

You'll need to be patient once you're out on the water. While sharks sometimes bite quickly, it's not unusual for it to take several hours to hook one. Once a shark takes the bait, teamwork comes into play. Whoever is reeling the shark in will need to be wearing a harness, and others on the boat should give him a wide berth to fight with it from the other end of the fishing line. Once the shark is drawn in closely, someone else will have the task of getting the shark tied down for the remainder of the journey, being careful to wind in the wire in such a way that any danger of going overboard is minimized.

Release any shark that you don't intend to eat unless you are participating in a competition, in which case you'll have to pay attention to the size of the shark you have caught to determine whether it is a viable catch.

In the U.S., we're lucky to live in one of the largest and most geographically varied countries in the world. Taken as a whole, it's a fisher's paradise. We have huge rivers, mountain streams, huge lakes, small lakes, saltwater lakes, and, of course, thousands of miles of diverse coastline. Practically every coastal region in the country has its own unique fishing opportunities, but there are some that really stand out. Here are just a few examples.

The Florida Keys: The great thing about these islands off the southern coast of Florida is that they allow travelers to leap at intervals into the Gulf of Mexico, getting gradually further and further from the mainland. Essentially, what this does is take you through several different Gulf ecosystems, all great for saltwater fishing. By the time you get out to Key West, you're surrounded by hundreds of miles of untrammeled open waters.

Sure, there are shallows around the islands, but if you take a boat out a couple dozen miles, you get into real deep territory. Here, you can catch everything from Tuna, to Snappers, to Mackerels to Marlins-so bring your sturdiest fishing equipment.

Washington state: Washington state is full of freshwater lakes and rivers that offer plenty of great fishing. But if you're into saltwater fishing, the western part of the state is as good as it gets. In the gorgeous Puget Sound, you can catch halibut, cod, salmon, and flounder, all within a day's trip from Seattle.

Louisiana: The coastal area around where the mighty Mississippi River drains into the Gulf of Mexico is one of the top fishing regions in the world. Trawl the shallow bays and the Breton Sound for hearty fish like speckled trout, sheepshead, black drums, and huge bull redfish. And don't forget Lank Pontchartrain, just north of New Orleans. This saltwater lake is connected to the Gulf by an 8-mile-long strip of water called the Rigolets, allowing all types of saltwater creatures to make their way in. You never know what'll catch there.

North Carolina: The Outer Banks of North Carolina are a long strip of narrow islands that run down the coast, up to a 100 miles off shore in some places. The fishing on the ocean side of the islands is phenomenal, but it still doesn't come close to the Pamlico Sound on the other side.

The Pamlico's calm, warm waters make it a perfect breeding ground for all different types of fish. Sail a few miles out, and you'll have seemingly unlimited access to red and black drums, trout, flounder, kingfish, mackerel, sea bass, cobia, and lots of others. And when you're done, head over to the eastern side of the Outer Banks for a whole different experience.

Southern California: The entire California coast is fertile ground for fishing, but the area around San Diego is particularly fishing-friendly, with albacore, white sea bass, marlins, and some of the biggest bass you've ever seen. The fishing scene in the San Diego area thrives year round, with countless contractors ready and willing to take you out for fishing adventures in the bright Pacific sun.

If you're looking for the best saltwater fishing reel you need to know who the top manufacturers are and here's a quick outline:

Shimano - A leader in the outdoor recreation business for many years this Japanese company has been in the forefront of manufacturing quality fishing equipment. And, with fish being the staple of the Japanese diet means that this is more than just a business to them.

Penn - Otto Henze started the company in 1932 and this American company has been one of the leading manufacturers of fishing equipment ever since. Serious anglers have been using their high quality tackle and reels for many decades, when they go out to sea to battle against large saltwater sport fish.

Daiwa - Another Japanese company, Daiwa has grown into one of the largest and most influential tackle companies in the world, since their first spinning reel rolled off the assembly line in 1955.

Abu Garcia - A Swedish company that was founded in the early 1920s. It originally made clocks and watches. It later switched manufacturing precision watches, to precision fishing reels. After eight decades, their endurance in this competitive industry is a testament to their dedication to fine craftsmanship and sturdy practicality.

Okuma - Yet another Japanese company in this highly competitive industry has one of the prestige brands for fishing reels and other fishing related equipment. A top priority for this company is to offer high quality gear at a very low price. This attracts many fishermen from around the world to see them as their outfitter of choice.