Tarpon Megalops atlanticus
17 of 27worth the trip today
Best right now at St. Pete Beach, Florida. Water is inside the 74–90° range tarpon like at 23 of the 23 spots with a live reading.
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About tarpon
The Silver King — a 100-plus-pound migratory gamefish prized for spectacular leaping fights. A near-pure catch-and-release fishery in Florida; famous runs include Boca Grande Pass and the Keys bridges. Feeds hard around moving tides and the new and full moons.
Megalops atlanticus, family Megalopidae.
Tarpon, spot by spot
All 27 spots with tarpon in season, scored for tarpon, best first.
80° water · 12 mph wind · incoming tide
82° water · 8 mph wind · outgoing tide
74° water · 15 mph wind · high slack tide
74° water · 10 mph wind · high slack tide
84° water · 3 mph wind · incoming tide
75° water · 14 mph wind · outgoing tide
79° water · 10 mph wind · outgoing tide
82° water · 7 mph wind · outgoing tide
78° water · 10 mph wind · outgoing tide
75° water · 13 mph wind · outgoing tide
85° water · 6 mph wind · outgoing tide
The water they want
Tarpon feed from about 74° to 90°F and best near 80°. Each pin is one spot’s water right now, from NOAA and USGS gauges; 23 of 23 are inside the range.
How they feed
- Water74–90°F, best near 80°
- TideIncoming
- MoonFull
- DepthUsually 3–30 ft
- Active monthsApr–Sep
Scored against their own temperature range and tide preference first, then wind, weather and warnings. Solunar periods only break ties. How the score works
Keep or release
- Floridano harvestCatch-and-release only. Tarpon over 40" must stay in the water unless you hold a tarpon tag (one per person a year), bought before fishing, in pursuit of a Florida state or world record.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source · 15 days since checked
- Floridano harvestCatch-and-release only. Tarpon over 40" must stay in the water unless you hold a tarpon tag (one per person a year), bought before fishing, in pursuit of a Florida state or world record.Gulf waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source · 15 days since checked
Rules change, and they differ by state and often by water. Each spot page shows the limits for its own water. Tarpon are fished at spots in 1 state: Florida.
Waters with their own rules
These waters set limits for tarpon that differ from the rest of their state.
Fished in the same water
Species people target at the same spots as tarpon, and how they’re doing today.
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