Tarpon
The Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) holds very little value as a food
fish. The thing that makes them an extraordinary gamefish is their extreme strength and
spectacular ability to jump. The tarpon's silver body is covered with unusually large
scales. They have an elongated ray on their dorsal fin, which is how you can tell small
tarpon from ladyfish. Most tarpon that are taken by anglers weigh between 20 and 80 pounds
but, tarpon can grow to lengths of about 8 feet and reach weights of about 300 pounds.
Tarpon feed on crabs, shrimp, and other fish. They are most often
fished for by casting or trolling spoons and jigs. Tarpon will also hit live bait fish
fished under a cork.
Tarpon and snook are very similar in habitat requirements and are
often found together in tidal creeks, estuaries, mangrove swamps, lagoons, and offshore.
Texas Gulf Coast
Fishing
