Species profile
Atlantic Tarpon
Megalops atlanticus
Identify Atlantic Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 4 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Atlantic Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) is an IUCN Vulnerable bony-fish species regulated in 5 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Bag limits are uniform at 1 per angler across the 3 regulating jurisdictions.
Across 3 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 79.3 in (≈ 6 ft 7 in).
Confirmed by 1,836 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, Georgia, and Texas the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- They can reach over 8 feet in length — the IGFA world record weighed 286 pounds.
- Tarpon can gulp air using a modified swim bladder that supplements gill breathing in low-oxygen water.
- Their large, mirror-like scales can measure more than 2 inches across and are prized as keepsakes by anglers.
- Tarpon can live an average of 55 years, meaning a trophy fish today may have hatched in the 1970s.
- They are famous for explosive aerial leaps when hooked, clearing the water repeatedly during a fight.
Where Atlantic Tarpon are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Atlantic Tarpon
Background
The Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) inhabits coastal waters, estuaries, lagoons, and rivers. Tarpons feed almost exclusively on schooling fish and occasionally crabs. A tarpon is capable of filling its swim bladder with air, like a primitive lung. This gives the tarpon a predatory advantage when oxygen levels in the water are low. Tarpons have been recorded at up to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Atlantic Tarpon article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Atlantic Tarpon?
Atlantic Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) is an IUCN Vulnerable bony-fish species regulated in 5 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Atlantic Tarpon?
Atlantic Tarpon is Megalops atlanticus.
Is Atlantic Tarpon regulated for fishing?
Yes — Atlantic Tarpon has fishing regulations in 4 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Atlantic Tarpon?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Atlantic Tarpon along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.