Tarpon Lake

Tarpon Lake is a small landlocked pond ringed by red mangrove in the middle of Little Cayman, and it holds a resident population of tarpon that presumably came in as juveniles through a connection that has since closed. They are smaller than the ocean fish, in the ten to thirty pound range, and they roll on the surface constantly, which makes them visible and maddening in equal measure. Fly fishers take kayaks or small boats out for them on a catch and release basis. Around the pond the mangrove holds herons and the trail in passes through dry forest with iguanas.

What you actually see

• Rolling tarpon - surfacing constantly across the pond.
• Fly fishing from a kayak - the standard approach, catch and release.
• The mangrove ring - red mangrove enclosing the whole pond.
• The trail in - dry forest with rock iguanas on the way.

When to go

November to May is the driest. Early morning and late afternoon are when the fish are most active. Kayaks are arranged through the resorts. Mosquitoes are severe at dawn and dusk.

Honest expectations

The fish are notoriously difficult and many anglers spend a session without a hookup; the point is the setting rather than the catching. Fishing is catch and release and the population is small and self-contained. Mosquitoes at the pond are among the worst on the island. Access requires arranging a kayak.

Nearby

Booby Pond is across the road; Blossom Village is nearby.