Fish guide
Tarpon
Megalops atlanticus. Also called Silver king.
Showing the fish for Georgia coast, GA.
Season in Georgia
Peak months: Aug.
St. Simons guide: tarpon sight fishing summer to late summer, present until September. GA DNR winter: tarpon migrate south. SCDNR: distribution is temperature regulated, peaking July and August next door in SC. (Our inference)
Season by region
| Myrtle Beach | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Charleston | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Georgia | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Northeast Florida | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Space Coast | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Southeast Florida | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Florida Keys | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Southwest Florida | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Tampa Bay | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Big Bend | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Panhandle | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Alabama | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Mississippi | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Louisiana | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Upper Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Middle Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Lower Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
Where to find them
Sound shoals and bars and the beaches near big menhaden schools in summer (St. Simons guide report, GA DNR).
Inlets, jetties and just past the breakers where menhaden and mullet schools are.
What to look for
Rolling fish at the surface, menhaden schools being pushed.
Bait
Live menhaden (pogies), Large live mullet. 8/0 non-offset, non-stainless circle hook (required in SC for natural bait at 4/0 and up) on 100 lb fluorocarbon leader, fished near bait schools.
Leader
80 to 100 lb fluorocarbon, 3 to 5 ft.
Common mistakes
- Fishing without bait schools around
- Pulling a big tarpon out of the water for a photo
Landing
Do not lift or beach a large tarpon. Keep it in the water, gills submerged; cut the line near the hook if it is gut-hooked.
Handling
- Very strong; jumps and thrashes
- Rough mouth
Keep big fish in the water (Florida requires it for fish over 40 in); support smaller fish horizontally under the belly with wet hands.
Keep or release
Release is the norm. Georgia rules apply; see the regulations file.
Typical: 40 to 60 in, 40 to 60 lb. Large: Over 100 lb. SC record 154 lb 10 oz (1987).
Limits
FishOS has not checked the GA limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division before you keep a fish.
Sources
- Orvis fishing report, St. Simons Island GA (Capt. David Edens, Fly Cast Charters) (Angler knowledge)
- Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division, Coastlines Dec 2024: Ask a CRD Pro, tips for winter fishing (Official source)
- SCDNR species profile: tarpon (Official source)
- Carolina Sportsman: tarpon have arrived along the SC coastline (Angler knowledge)
- Carolina Sportsman: 100-pound tarpon landed from Apache Pier, Myrtle Beach (2019) (Angler knowledge)
- SCDNR saltwater game fish records (Official source)
Is tarpon worth it today?
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