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Rules by state · Florida (Atlantic)

Tarponin Florida (Atlantic)

Megalops atlanticus

Also called Silver king.

Recreational rule, FWC 2026, checked Sep 20, 2026. The official rulebook is the final word.

Studio photograph of a Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus), side view, on a white background

The rule in Florida (Atlantic)

Florida (Atlantic)’s own rule for tarpon in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.

SizeCatch-and-release only
BagCatch and release (one $50 tag per year for record pursuit only)
SeasonCatch-and-release year-round

Tarpon over 40 in must remain in the water; hook and line only.

FWC 2026· checked Put it back

Florida (Atlantic) state record

243.19 lb, Key West, 1975. FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23

How to tell it

Chrome-plated giant scales, upturned bucket mouth, last dorsal ray trails into a filament. More on the tarpon page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.

Tarpon in other states

Florida (Gulf)North CarolinaEvery state

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Point the camera at a tarpon in Florida (Atlantic) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.

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Tarpon in Florida (Atlantic): the questions

Can you keep tarpon in Florida (Atlantic)?

No. Harvest is prohibited in Florida (Atlantic). Release it in the water where you can. Tarpon over 40 in must remain in the water; hook and line only.

What is the Florida (Atlantic) record tarpon?

243.19 lb, Key West (1975).

How current is this Florida (Atlantic) tarpon rule?

Source: FWC 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.