Issue 9, September 2018

Atlantic Tarpon

Megalops atlanticus

History of Gulf of Mexico Tarpon

Tarpon, frequently referred to by anglers as “silver kings” are a prized game fish of saltwater anglers along the Gulf Coast. Once thought to be uncatchable due to their sheer size and power, tarpon helped shape the Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas. Tarpon were the sportsman’s fish of the early 1900s, and fishermen from all over the United States, including several future presidents, flocked to coastal cities for a chance to catch one of these magnificent fish. These fishermen brought in thousands of dollars to the local businesses and guides who made their living tarpon fishing. For decades, this fishing craze spanned the entire northern Gulf of Mexico, with Port Aransas, Texas (formally Tarpon, Texas) being called the "1950s tarpon capital of the world". However, as tarpon populations in the northern Gulf of Mexico began to decline in the 1960s, so did the number of tarpon fishermen. Tarpon declines are thought to result from a combination of fishing pressure and coastal development altering rivers and estuaries where juvenile tarpon reside until adulthood.

In the past, almost all captured tarpon were brought back to port for fishmen to pose with. However, today’s tarpon fishery is primarily catch and release, with few tarpon kept as trophies. While tarpon are not consumed in the United States, they are considered a delicacy in some African countries, and are served during special occasions such as marriage ceremonies and festivals. They are also harvested in many Latin and South American countries for their meat and roe.

Biology of the Silver King

Tarpon are an ancient fish, and they have an incredibly interesting biology.

Tarpon can grow to over 8 feet long and well over 200 pounds.
Tarpon are one of the most fecund (i.e. fertile) fish species; an individual female is capable of producing over 20 million eggs per year!
Tarpon have a physostomous (fi-sauce-toe-mus) swim bladder, which allows them to extract oxygen from air in addition to obtaining oxygen through their gills. This modified swim bladder allows tarpon to live in oxygen poor environments where most other fish species can’t. This is also why tarpon they are able to roll or leap into the air mid-fight.
Tarpon are a slow-growing fish, requiring about 10 years to reach sexual maturity and having the potential to live over 80 years.
Not much is known about tarpon spawning in the Gulf of Mexico, but it is thought that they will form large groups and then travel over 100 miles offshore to spawn. The tarpon eggs will then hatch and the larvae will slowly make their way back to the Gulf Coast estuaries.

Download the PDF to view the entire newsletter

Download