Fish guide
Tarpon
Megalops atlanticus. Also called Silver king.
Showing the fish for Lower Texas coast, South Padre.
Season in Lower Texas
South Padre guide: deep South Texas is the best chance for shore and jetty anglers; tarpon of all sizes in the surf and passes. TPWD: southern Texas has the most directed tarpon fishing. Months not given; summer pattern applied. (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
The surf and passes; South Texas has a large concentration of tarpon within reach of shore and jetty anglers (South Padre guide).
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
Not usually eaten in Texas (TPWD); release is the norm.
Typical: unknown. Large: unknown. Texas record 229 lb, 90 in (2017).
Limits
FishOS has not checked the TX limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department before you keep a fish.
Sources
- South Padre Island CVB: Bay and offshore fishing guide (species notes) (Angler knowledge)
- TPWD species profile: tarpon (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)
Is tarpon worth it today?
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