The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Tarpon Megalops atlanticus
Tarpon Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 48–72 in, 60–130 lb |
|---|---|
| Maximum | up to 8 ft and 355 lb |
| Lifespan | up to 55 years |
| Range | Warm coastal Atlantic and Gulf waters — common from the Carolinas through Florida and west along the Gulf to Texas, with summer wanderers turning up as far north as New England and Nova Scotia. |
| Habitat | Shallow coastal water — beaches, passes, bays, estuaries and mangrove creeks, usually under 50 ft; they gulp air so they hold in low-oxygen backwaters. |
| Diet | Mullet, pilchards, threadfin herring and other schooling baitfish, plus shrimp and crabs washed out on a falling tide. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Tarpon
- Large bright silver scales (silver-plated look)
- Single dorsal fin with a long trailing filament at the rear
- Large upturned (superior) mouth, bony upturned lower jaw
- Big eyes; deeply forked tail
- No spots, scutes, or barbels
Tell it apart: Huge silver-dollar scales and a long trailing filament off the back of the dorsal fin make the tarpon unmistakable.
How to Catch Tarpon
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- Summer only — soak big live menhaden on circle hooks at the inlet drop-offs on the moon tides.Gear9/0–10/0 circle hooks80 lb fluorocarbon leaderBait cast net
- Spring through summer is prime as fish migrate the beaches and Keys bridges; sight-cast crabs, mullet or large swimbaits, and fly the flats.GearSoft-plastic swimbaits5/0-7/0 circle hooks80 lb fluorocarbon leader
When & Where Tarpon Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Atlantic Inshore | ||||||||||||
| South Florida & the Keys Inshore |
Tarpon Regulations
GeorgiaGeorgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources DivisionSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources DivisionNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ), Division of Marine FisheriesSouth Atlantic Fishery Management CouncilSAFMCAtlantic States Marine Fisheries CommissionASMFCFloridaFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf Council)GMFMC
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.