StreamerintermediateFlorida Keys & South Florida
Cockroach Tarpon Fly
$9.95
Available Sizes#1/0 - #3/0
Color Variations
Natural GrizzlyBlack/GrizzlyTan/Grizzly
The Cockroach has been catching tarpon in the Keys since before Instagram existed, and it will be catching them long after whatever replaces it. Grizzly hackle feathers over deer hair create a profile that tarpon find absolutely irresistible -- or at least mildly interesting, which with tarpon is the same thing. Like a great novel, it improves every time you revisit it.
Meet the Tier
Dan Johnson
Custom Saltwater Flies
Camden, ME
A retired teacher based in Camden, Maine. Demand exceeds supply — the mark of a true craftsman. Dan's made-to-order saltwater flies are wholesaled through Salt Fly Pro and trusted by serious anglers.
Retired teacher, demand exceeds supply, wholesale through Salt Fly Pro
Meet All Our TiersQuick Facts
TypeStreamer
Difficultyintermediate
SeasonsSpring, Summer
Target SpeciesTarpon
Sizes#1/0 - #3/0
Best LocationsBahia Honda Channel, FL; Key West Harbor, FL; Islamorada Backcountry, FL
Where to Fish It
Bahia Honda Channel
FL · Channels
Key West Harbor
FL · Bridges
Islamorada Backcountry
FL · Backcountry
Map unavailable. Locations for Cockroach Tarpon Fly: Bahia Honda Channel, FL; Key West Harbor, FL; Islamorada Backcountry, FL
Related Reading
region guide
Florida Keys: Chasing the Flats Grand Slam
The Florida Keys Grand Slam — bonefish, permit, and tarpon on the fly in a single day — is saltwater fly fishing's ultimate test. It demands mastery of three different species, three different presentations, and an almost unreasonable amount of luck. Here's how to stack the odds in your favor.
species science
The Silver King: Understanding Tarpon
Tarpon breathe air. They've survived five mass extinctions. They migrate thousands of miles, daisy-chain in mysterious circles, and when they eat your fly, they do things in the air that no other fish can do. Understanding what makes them tick is the first step toward actually landing one.
hatch guide
Saltwater Forage: Matching the Bait
In saltwater fly fishing, there are no hatches — there is forage. Mullet, shrimp, crabs, baitfish, and worms drive every feeding event on the flats, in the surf, and along the mangrove edges. Understanding the forage base and matching it precisely is the difference between a fish of a lifetime and an empty line.
technique
Solunar Tables: Science, Myth, and Practical Use
Solunar theory claims that the gravitational pull of the moon and sun creates predictable periods of peak animal activity. Saltwater anglers swear by it. Freshwater anglers roll their eyes. The truth, as usual, lives somewhere in between — and the practical implications might surprise you.
technique
Casting in the Wind: A Saltwater Caster's Guide
Wind is the defining challenge of saltwater fly fishing. It blows every day on the flats, and it doesn't care about your presentation. The anglers who catch fish consistently aren't the ones who wait for calm — they're the ones who've learned to cast through, under, and around the wind with techniques that turn the breeze from enemy to ally.
technique
Catch and Release: The Science of Fish Survival
We release fish and feel good about it. But does the fish survive? The science is both encouraging and sobering. Catch-and-release mortality varies from nearly zero to over forty percent depending on species, water temperature, fight duration, handling, and a handful of other factors entirely within the angler's control. Here's what the research says and how to maximize survival.
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