Fish profile · Megalopidae

Atlantic tarpon

Megalops atlanticus

SportFreshwater Brackish Saltwater Vulnerable (IUCN)

Atlantic tarpon is a large, silvery coastal fish known for powerful leaps when hooked. It tolerates a wide range of salinities, and juveniles may enter freshwater. Tarpon can gulp air at the surface; Florida manages it principally as a catch-and-release sport fish.

Last reviewed 26 October 2026 · 5 sources

Photo of Atlantic tarpon — (c) Jay Brasher, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY

Max length: 243.8 cm
Max weight: 136.1 kg
IUCN: VU; Vulnerable
Family: Megalopidae; order Elopiformes

Category from the IUCN Red List, via GBIF (CC BY 4.0); it may lag the latest Red List assessment.

How big?

Linear scale · person 170 cm

Up to 243.8 cm and 136.1 kg.

The person is 170 cm tall.

How to identify

Very large, bright silver scales
Large upward-facing mouth
Last dorsal-fin ray forms a long trailing filament

Habitat

Coastal waters Estuaries

Adults mainly use inshore coastal water and spawn offshore; juveniles also enter freshwater.

Diet: Fish and large crustaceans.

Eating

Tarpon has little food value and is mainly pursued for catch-and-release fishing in Florida. A few cases of ciguatera have been reported from eating tarpon. Ciguatera is a natural poison that builds up in reef fish, and cooking and freezing don't destroy it.

More photos

Atlantic tarpon, photo 2 — (c) Shawn Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY

Sources

Last reviewed 26 October 2026