Find Your Next Spot
Tarpon
Fish species identification guide
Identification
Large, silver, mirror-like scales, an upturned mouth, and a long filament trailing from the dorsal fin.
Where It's Found
Warm coastal waters, passes, and backcountry flats of the Gulf Coast, South Atlantic, and Florida in particular, migrating seasonally along the coast.
Fishing Notes
Famous for spectacular, acrobatic jumps when hooked; live crabs, mullet, and large flies fished on channels and flats are the standard approach for this premier inshore gamefish.
Scientific Classification▾
Family
Megalopidae
Genus
Megalopsvalenciennes
Order
Elopiformes
Class
Actinopterygii
Phylum
Chordata
Kingdom
Animalia
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Find a boat ramp near you and check state fishing regulations before you head out.
Photography sourced from Wikimedia Commons contributors.