Private Tour
Light Tackle Tarpon & Snook Fishing Charter
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
San Juan, PR is home to some of the best tarpon fishing in the world. Light tackle and fly fishing enthusiasts journey to San Juan, PR from all over the world to fish the brackish waters of Laguna San Jose & Laguna Torrecilla for tarpon, jacks, and snook. Gorgeous and seemingly endless red mangroves span the horizon right on the middle of the hotel district, the marina (Cangrejos Yacht Club) is just a mere 3 to 5 mile run from isla verde, condado and old san juan. Making Backwater Tarpon Fishing Puerto Rico, one of the premier fishing charters in San Juan, Puerto Rico come and enjoy a perfect day of light tackle angling. Backwater fishing in Puerto Rico affords anglers the opportunity to explore endless mangroves of Puerto Rico while targeting several of the most coveted light tackle species. If you’re looking for a tarpon fishing charter in Puerto Rico who will put you on the fish, be sure to give Backwater Tarpon Fishing PR a call to learn more about availability and what’s biting!
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
San Juan, PR is home to some of the best tarpon fishing in the world. Light tackle and fly fishing enthusiasts journey from all over the world to fish the brackish waters of Laguna San Jose and Laguna Torrecilla for tarpon, jacks, and snook. This vast lagoon is perfectly suited for marine life, providing infinite sources of bait all year round for the resident fish. Targeting the Silver King will be your main priority, but there are other fish around as well. The local Tarpon population can range anywhere from 20 lbs all the way up to 150 lbs. Captain Clery will provide you with all the necessary rods, reels, and terminal tackle you’ll need for a fun time on the water. All you need to bring is a pair of polarized sunglasses, some sunscreen, and a go-getter attitude. Once you’ve danced with the Silver King, you’ll be hooked for life. Gorgeous and seemingly endless red mangroves span the horizon right on the middle of the hotel district. The marina is just a mere three to five mile run from Isla Verde, Condado and old San Juan.
What‘s Included
Soda/Pop
Private transportation
Options
4HRS Tarpon Fly Fishing Trip
Fly Fishing for Tarpons: We currently provide all the tackle needed for fly fishing in Puerto Rico. Our weapon of choice would be the Sage X 9wt.
Duration: 4 hours
20FT Bay Craft
2hrs Spinning Tackle Trip
Duration: 2 hours
Hydra Sport 20FT bayboat
4hrs Spinning Tackle Trip
Duration: 4 hours
20ft Bay Craft
4hrs Night Fishing Trip
Duration: 4 hours
23Ft Bay Boat
Reviews
383 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Really really bad
colet329,Apr 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Hooked into nothing, guide was an hour late our original fishing time was 9-11am Was on phone most of the time talking to other guides trying to figure out a bite. Hey I get fishing isn’t guaranteed, but if you’re charging an exuberant rate ($350) I would expect a way better experience w this. Felt like I threw away 350
No Tarpon, Small Snook. Nice day on Water
Sarah H,Apr 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00We are very experienced fishermen who understand tarpon fishing is not easy. We did not hook any tarpon, and only caught a total of 5 under 12” snook in our 4 hour trip. Our captain was good conversation and communication but did not chum, come with live bait, or fish at all to get an extra rod in the water. We were able to get a small amount of live bait from another captain after we expressed our expectation based on the website saying “we specialize in live bait fishing”. Additionally, The boat also does not have a trolling motor (to be quiet for the tarpon) or a depth finder (to see fish below for bridge fishing). In my opinion, all of these controllable items contributed to us not catching anything. We had a nice day on the water but I would choose another company next time
Javier was a great guide!...
Joseph W,Apr 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Javier was a great guide! He has been fishing San Juan for more than 20yrs and knew the waters well. He was great with my two kids and helped them land their tarpon. It was a wonderful afternoon!!!
Third time.
Scott S,Apr 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Third time going with Backwater Tarpon over the years. Great time as always. Got a lot of bites and landed one tarpon.
Evening Tarpon fishing
Pioneer766831,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a blast! Caught some big Tarpon!
Night fishing for tarpon
G5644JOrogert,Mar 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a great night tarpon trip with Capt Manny. Good gear and very professional. Made everyone feel comfortable. Bite was a little slow, but when we finally got on a big fish he worked the boat like a pro for 40 minutes until we landed it. Highly recommend. The meetup spot when we went was an old house with no signs, but a pin and photo of building was provided. Easy enough to locate just a bit unconventional.
Loved Captain Javier and our fishing experience.
duginboston,Mar 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We really enjoyed Captain Javier! A great person and we learned a lot about tarpon. None of the boats had any luck the day we went out but Javier knew the good spots and moved around to give us the best chance. The boat and the fishing gear worked great! We'll definitely go with him and Backwater again next time! He is gave a good referral for lunch, too.
The amount of fish in...
Ryan M,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The amount of fish in that area is crazy. We got 4 hits landed 2. 2 hr trip is great for the avg person. I recommend the 4 hr if you got the time. Captain was wonderful and we had a great time. Recommend for anyone trying to knock Tarpon off the old bucket list!!!
Great Experience
Departure37428392890,Mar 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a great day on the water with my two sons during their spring break. While we weren't lucky enough to catch a Tarpon on this day my boys were both able to catch a couple of smaller fish throughout the day to keep things interesting, We also saw a Tarpon get caught by a boat near us so we were able to see the fight to catch one. Our guide Miguel was great and I could tell he was doing everything he could to try to get us on the fish. We could see them rolling all around us. They just weren't biting for us that day. I would definitely do this again though.
Unforgettable First Tarpon Trip!
Teresa H,Mar 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was our very first time tarpon fishing, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Our guide, Manny, was incredibly patient and went above and beyond to teach us all about the fish and the best techniques to catch them. The area is absolutely stunning with all the mangroves—highly recommend this for anyone looking for a great day on the water!
Related Experiences
Operated by Backwater Tarpon Fishing Charters Puerto Rico