Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) is a saltwater, freshwater, brackish species recorded in the United States. It is mainly found over reef, at depths of 0–40 m. The main season in the United States runs spring, summer, autumn.
Scientific name: Megalops atlanticus · Water: Saltwater, Freshwater, Brackish · Season: Spring, Summer, Autumn
Size: 60–220 cm
Weight: 5–100 kg
Tarpon, the legendary silver king of Florida and the Gulf, is a large, air-gulping fish that haunts estuaries and mangrove channels. Its range is the Atlantic, from Nova Scotia and Bermuda south to Brazil including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean in the west, and from Mauritania to Angola in the east, with exceptional records from Portugal, the Azores and the Atlantic coast of southern France. It is most active from late spring through autumn, peaking in summer. Famous for its explosive jumps and stamina, it is a bucket-list challenge for anglers.
Caution: large individuals carry a ciguatera risk. Heat, cold and marinating do not remove the toxin, which concentrates in the liver, roe and head, so avoid eating those parts. Seek medical help if numbness, tingling or a reversed sense of hot and cold follows a meal.
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