Tarpon
Megalops atlanticus
Also called Silver king.
How to tell it
Chrome-plated giant scales, upturned bucket mouth, last dorsal ray trails into a filament.
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 60 in total length minimum | $67.00 harvest tag required per fish | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | Catch-and-release only | Catch and release (one $50 tag per year for record pursuit only) | Catch-and-release year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| Florida (Gulf) | Catch-and-release only | Catch and release (one $50 tag per year for record pursuit only) | Catch-and-release year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| Georgia | 68 in fork length | 1 per person per day | Open year-roundGA DNR CRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Mississippi | 75 in fork length minimum | 1 per vessel per day | Open year-roundMS DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| North Carolina | N/A | No harvest or possession | Closed year-roundNC DMF 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| South Carolina | 77 in fork length | 1/day | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Texas | 85 in total length | 1 | Open year-roundTPWD 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 203 lb | 1992 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Florida | 243.19 lb | 1975 · Key West | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Georgia | 161 lb | 1995 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 · GA keeps men's/women's records; heavier taken as overall |
| Louisiana | 246.63 lb | 2015 · W. Delta Blk. | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Mississippi | 185 lb 8.8 oz | 2019 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| North Carolina | 193 lb 5 oz | 2008 · Sea View Pier | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| South Carolina | 154 lb 10 oz | 1987 · Hilton Head | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 229 lb | 2017 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Virginia | 130 lb | 1975 · Off Oyster | VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Not eaten — a release fish.
In the app
Point the camera at a tarpon and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about tarpon
What is the size limit for tarpon?
It depends on the state. Alabama: 60 in total length minimum; Georgia: 68 in fork length; Mississippi: 75 in fork length minimum; South Carolina: 77 in fork length; Texas: 85 in total length.
How many tarpon can you keep?
Alabama: $67.00 harvest tag required per fish; Georgia: 1 per person per day; Mississippi: 1 per vessel per day; South Carolina: 1/day; Texas: 1.
Where is tarpon harvest prohibited?
Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf), North Carolina. Release it there.
What is the record tarpon?
246.63 lb in Louisiana (2015), W. Delta Blk.. Other states’ records are in the table.