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Tarpon

Megalops atlanticus

Migratory body, tide-driven. Bridge fights on outgoing, beach push on calm dawns.

Preferred water temp74–86°F
Peak monthsMay, Jun, Jul
Holds onpasses, beach, flats

In our regions

Northeast Florida — AtlanticCentral/Southeast Florida — AtlanticMiami & Keys — Atlantic sideSouthwest Florida — GulfFlorida Panhandle — GulfBig Bend — GulfBahamas — Bimini & Grand BahamaBahamas — Abaco & AndrosBahamas — Eleuthera, Exuma & Cat IslandNorth Carolina (Outer Banks + Cape Lookout)South Carolina CoastGeorgia CoastAlabama GulfMississippi GulfLouisiana GulfTexas Gulf

Regulations

⚠️ BETA: best-effort current as of May 31, 2026. Confirm with the linked FWC / NOAA source before keeping a fish.

Showing 11 of 11 regulations

STATE

FL Gulf — State waters (0–9 nm)

Catch & releaseCatch & release only
Bag limit
0 / angler / day
Vessel limit
1 total / vessel / day

Catch-and-release only. $50 tarpon tag required only when pursuing record. Tarpon over 40" must remain in water. Hook and line only. Boca Grande Pass has extra restrictions Apr-Jun.

FL Gulf tarpon: C&R only.

GA_ATLANTIC

Georgia — State waters (0–3 nm) · GA DNR

Catch & releaseCatch & release only

Catch & release only — no retention. Strong summer/fall runs around Cumberland + Jekyll Island.

Georgia DNR.

NC_ATLANTIC

North Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · NCDMF

Catch & releaseCatch & release only

Catch & release only. Summer-fall fish around the Pamlico, Cape Lookout, Hatteras inlets.

NC DMF.

AL_GULF

Alabama — State waters (0–3 nm) · AL CNR-MRD

Catch & releaseCatch & release only

Catch & release only. Summer migrations along the AL Gulf — Dauphin Island, Gulf Shores.

Alabama CNR-MRD.

MS_GULF

Mississippi — State waters (0–3 nm) · MS DMR

Catch & releaseCatch & release only

Catch & release only.

Mississippi DMR.

LA_GULF

Louisiana — State waters (0–3 nm) · LDWF

Catch & releaseCatch & release only

Catch & release only.

Louisiana DWF.

STATE

All Florida — State + Federal

Catch & releaseCatch & release only

Catch-and-release only in all FL waters except by tag (extremely limited annual allocation, typically only for IGFA record attempts). Fish over 40" must remain in water for release. No bag limit, no size limit — release everything.

BAHAMAS

Bahamas — Department of Marine Resources

Catch & releaseCatch & release only

CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY. No retention. Tarpon over 40 inches must not be removed from the water for photos.

Strong runs in spring + fall around Bimini, Andros bights, and the Berry Islands.

TX_GULF

Texas — State waters (0–9 nm) · TPWD

Catch & releaseCatch & release only
Bag limit
1 / angler / day
Minimum
85″ TL (total length)

Effectively catch & release — bag is 1/person/day but minimum size is 85" TL (a giant fish). Best fishery: Port Aransas, South Padre, Galveston in summer.

Texas Parks & Wildlife.

STATE

FL Atlantic — State waters (0–3 nm)

Catch & releaseCatch & release only
Bag limit
0 / angler / day
Vessel limit
1 total / vessel / day

Catch-and-release only. $50 tarpon tag required per person per year, ONLY when pursuing FL state or world record (limit 1 fish under tag). Tarpon over 40" must remain in water. Hook and line only; snagging/snatch hooks/multi-hook with bait prohibited. Boca Grande Pass has extra restrictions Apr-Jun.

FL Atlantic tarpon: C&R only; record-tag system optional.

SC_ATLANTIC

South Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · SCDNR

Catch & releaseCatch & release only

Catch & release only. Best fishery: Beaufort/Hilton Head/Charleston jetties in summer.

SC DNR.