Tarpon
Family Elopidae Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus)

Description: greenish or bluish on top and shading into bright silver on the sides. Huge scales and large mouth is turned upwards and the lower jaw contains an elongated, bony plate. The last ray of the dorsal fin is much longer than the others, reaching nearly to the tail.
Similar Fish: Ladyfish, Elops saurus.
Where Found: Inshore fish, in bays and estuaries; occasionally enters freshwater, occurring in tidal pools and canals; adult fish spawn OFFSHORE where the ribbon-like larval stage of the fish can be found.


Size: 40 to 50 pounds


*Florida Record: Tarpon caught with conventional tackle is 243 pounds, caught by Gus Bell in Key West in 1975 on just 20-pound test line.
Remarks: slow grower; matures at 7 to 13 years of age; spawning occurs between May and September; female may lay more than 12 million eggs; can tolerate wide range of salinity; juveniles commonly found in fresh water; can breathe air at surface; feeds mainly on fish and large crustaceans. known to spawn OFFSHORE, ribbon-like larvae very similar to Albula and Megalops, peaking in fall; adult feeds predominantly on fish and crustaceans; leaps when hooked.

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