Atlantic Tarpon

The Atlantic tarpon, the silver king, is unmistakable with its large chrome-plated scales, upturned bony mouth, deeply forked tail, and a long trailing last dorsal ray. Fish of 100 pounds or more are common, and they roll at the surface to gulp air in a graceful, telltale arc.

Tarpon occupy warm Atlantic coastal waters, moving among beaches, passes, estuaries, rivers, and backcountry basins, and they tolerate a wide range of salinity. Migratory by nature, they follow bait and warming water along the coast.

They feed on crabs, mullet, and other baitfish, often crashing bait in passes on a moving tide. Anglers drift live crabs, mullet, and threadfin, or cast large soft plastics, swimbaits, and flies to rolling and traveling fish. Prized for their explosive leaps, tarpon demand that the angler bow to the fish on each jump, and heavy abrasion-resistant leaders to survive the rough mouth. Release is the standard.