Tarpons 

It was a beautiful day and I was in mid swing on the fairway of the 8th hole on the Doral Blue Monster in Miami. It happened abruptly and unexpectedly. A resounding clap of thunder followed by a blinding streak of lightning splitting the blue sky overhead precipitated a frenzy of activity in the water bordering the green before me. I watched, awestruck, as multiple numbers of huge fish, many exceeding six feet in length, breached in unison, rose high in the air and then dropped back into the water with a resounding smack. You don’t have to be caught in a thunderstorm at the Doral to witness these impressive fish. If you have been anywhere near the Hillsboro River, you have probably seen them cruising just beneath the water’s surface, or perhaps you’ve spotted a sudden splashing and flopping about of smaller fish in a frantic attempt to escape from these strong and powerful predators. 

Known under a variety of names such as silver king, kingfish, silver sides and sabalo, the Tarpon Megalops atlanticus, is a ray-finned, versatile fish that lives mostly in oceans but can also be found in fresh and brackish waters including rivers and marshes. Tarpon may migrate long distances throughout their entire lives and are known to move back and forth among salt, fresh and brackish waters during their lifetime. Its Latin name, "Megalops” means “large eyed”, and it is an ancient species that has changed very little over the past 125 million years. It is one of the few species of fish that possesses a swim bladder and is able to live for long periods of time in water with low oxygen levels due to its ability to ingest large amounts of air into its swim bladder by gulping air and is able to extract some measure of oxygen from it in a way that is similar to how lungs work. 

Small groups of tarpon are often observed swimming in circles. This is called “daisy chaining” and is considered to be a courtship ritual. Tarpon will spawn in secluded, warm areas where both eggs and sperm are released into the water in a process known as broadcast spawning. A female tarpon will release as many as 12 million eggs each time she spawns. Once tarpon eggs are fertilized and have hatched, their larval stage looks like a transparent, flat ribbon called a leptocephalus. Leptocephali are able to swim but they primarily navigate by drifting along with the current. 

Fish eating birds, like the osprey, feed on young tarpon, but as tarpon mature, bull sharks become its main predator along with great hammerhead sharks, American alligators and many species of porpoise. A tarpon’s ability to execute high, aerial leaps affords it significant maneuverability, and therefore acts as an aid in avoiding predation. Florida tarpon feed primarily on sardines, crustaceans, mullet, pinfish, catfish and needlefish. It will also scavenge the bottom for smaller, dead fish. 

Tarpon meat is edible; however its flesh is riddled with numerous tiny bones and isn’t considered tasty or appealing for human consumption. So why is tarpon known to be among the most prized saltwater game fish in the world? Simply stated, it’s big, strong and fast. Adult tarpon can grow to more than 8 feet in length and can weigh over 350 pounds. It is known to jump 10’ or more in the air, and its superior strength only serves to increase its speed, thereby enabling it to shoot through the water at up to 35 mph. At maturity, female tarpon measure somewhat larger than male tarpon. Female tarpon are typically 4 and a half feet in length whereas male tarpon are just under 4 feet. 

Tarpon is a threatened species and is considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is a popular game fish for sport fishing and commercial purposes (charter boat fishing), and unless a tag is used, it is prohibited in Florida (and some other states as well) to remove tarpon of over 40 inches in length from the water because lifting a heavier fish could cause injury to the angler from its violent thrashing. Although tarpon is considered to be a catch and release fishery in many locations, it has been argued that it faces ongoing challenges from habitat loss and recreational harvest. Tarpon is a long-lived species with a lifespan of 50 years or more and damage to its population can have effects for decades. It is believed that more studies of tarpon migrations and critical habitats are needed in order to develop and establish conservation models that will avoid tarpon population collapses. 

The tarpon is a magnificent fish that is more than worthy of its reputation as one of Florida’s premier and top ranked game fish. After having witnessed its size, strength, amazing aerial leaps and shooting speed, one is left awestruck in wide-eyed wonder.

Submitted by Diana R. Lopez   1/2024