Near-Record Tarpon Caught and Released in Tampa Bay

The first tarpon caught by this Florida angler fishing with a veteran guide might have been one of the heaviest silver kings ever caught in the Sunshine State.

Captain Tyler Kapela was looking to net some “pass crabs” for use as tarpon bait in a backwater feeder creek off Tampa Bay, Florida, with father-son team of local chartering anglers, Dylan and Nils Diaz on the afternoon of May 15. They were interrupted by a large splash produced by an even bigger fish.

See more here: Saltwater Sportsman

Tom Rowland Podcast: Tyler Kapela - Hit and Run Fishing Charters - Episode #687

Tyler Kapela is a guide based in the Tampa Bay area who’s fishing experience has gone way beyond the state of Florida. Tyler has fished the waters of French Polynesia, Australia, Costa Rica, the Bahamas and much more. Tyler also recently caught the potential state record for a tarpon in Florida with a monstrous 86” fork length and 44” girth measurement, the weight clocks in somewhere between 228lbs-248lbs. Along with his “Hit and Run” charter service, Tyler is a content creator on Youtube managing the WATERMAN’S WAY account and very involved with Captains For Clean Water.

Tarpon Fishing Tactics

"It's Tarpon Time!

Tarpon are tough to catch, hard to fight and have long been thought of as a bucket-list kind of fish. Capt. Tyler Kapela is here to help you cross this fish off your list! Listen in as he shares the best types of spots to find feeding tarpon, the best baits, gear, and the most common mistakes.

Capt. Tyler also shares some insight into:

- The best days to fish for tarpon

- How tides play into finding the bait and the tarpon

- The most effective way to prepare and hook your bait

- And much more

If you want to have the best shot at hooking, fighting, and landing a tarpon this year, then listen and watch!"

Fisherman Covers Himself in Dead Fish in Red Tide Protest

"Hit and Run Charters captain Tyler Kapela says it's getting harder and harder to find parts of Tampa Bay to take customers.

"Basically the entire middle part of the bay is dead right now. Like, nothing can live in that water," Kapela told FOX 13.

Kapela recorded a video that has since gone viral, with more than 200,000 views on Instagram, in which he covered himself with large dead fish, including a goliath grouper and a rotting tarpon to try to get the attention of state leaders who can help, including Gov. DeSantis."

How to Fix Florida's Phosphate Problem

"How you can hold those in charge accountable and help prevent disasters like those at Piney Point from happening again?" -Florida Sportsman Magazine

See more here: Florida Sportsman