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Atlantic tarpon · Silver king

Tarpon

Tarpon swimming in side view, silver scaled body with a large eye and upturned mouth
Daiju Azuma · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Recognition

Silvery with large scales and large eyes. The lower jaw projects forward. The last ray of the dorsal fin is long and threadlike.

SC DNR

Waters

Adults stay mostly in nearshore bays, sounds and estuaries and also enter rivers. Young tarpon favor salt marshes and estuaries.

SC DNR

Months

Apr–Aug

In South Carolina from April, peaking in July and August. Tarpon leave as water temperatures drop.

SC DNR · SC DNR

Months present, by species
SpeciesJanJFebFMarMAprAMayMJunJJulJAugASepSOctONovNDecD
TarponJan: not statedFeb: not statedMar: not statedApr: presentMay: presentJun: presentJul: peakAug: peakSep: not statedOct: not statedNov: not statedDec: not stated
  • Present
  • Peak
  • Not stated

Bait

  • Live mullet
  • Live menhaden
  • Live pinfish
  • Live spot
  • Crabs

GA DNR

Notes

Georgia DNR states tarpon have almost no food value and that releasing them helps conserve the stock. Its page advises circle hooks, short fights and keeping the fish in the water.

GA DNR

Size and bag limits