Life Cycle
Tarpon have remained relatively unchanged for millions of years.  Fossilized tarpon from tens of millions of years ago look virtually the same as they do now.  This long duration in the same form is why tarpon are often called primitive.  Their long tenure also indicates that the strategies they use for survival, growth, and reproduction have been very successful under changing conditions. 

Tarpon spawn by a method known as broadcast spawning - rather than dig a nest and lay eggs, like a freshwater trout, male and female tarpon gather in groups in offshore waters and release eggs and sperm into the open water.  So fertilization is external.  The eggs hatch in less than a day, and then the newly hatched larvae, called a leptocephalus, are on their own in the open ocean.  Tarpon larvae live in the open coastal waters for about 21 days before they need to find shallow wetland habitats.  Once they find these wetland habitats, they undergo a drastic change in shape and, over the course of a week or so, change into a miniature version of what we think of as tarpon.  Juvenile tarpon require shallow wetland areas such as mangrove swamps, marshes, mosquito ditches to survive.  Their ability to breath air allows them to use stinky, sulfur-smelling backwaters that most other fish species can=t handle.  This provides the juvenile tarpon a refuge from larger predatory fish.  After a couple of years in the wetlands, when the juvenile tarpon reach 2 to 3 feet length, most migrate out of the wetlands to estuarine and coastal habitats.  It takes about 10 years for a tarpon to become sexually mature, and we have records of fish living to at least 60 years of age.  As adults, tarpon often make long-distance seasonal migrations, and we are only now beginning to learn where these big fish go on their seasonal trips.

Although anglers usually think of trophy-sized fish when they think of fishing for tarpon, they must remember that the fishery depends on all of the other phases of the life cycle.  In other words, tarpon larvae must have good water quality to ensure their survival; juvenile tarpon depend on the stinky backwaters of mangroves and marshes; and adults need safe access to coastal waters for feeding, offshore waters for spawning, and safe passage through their pathways of long-distance migrations.

Tactics for Catch and Release
Although we are early in the process of learning about how tarpon respond to catch and release fishing, we can combine our new knowledge with information from studies of other fish species to outline the best strategies for increasing the survival of tarpon after release. It=s important to remember that tarpon are designed to live in water, which amounts to a situation where gravity is less of a concern than it is for us on land.  This means that tarpon don=t have the skeletal or muscular structure to support their weight out of water.  In their natural environment, water provides much of that support for them.  When landing a tarpon, anglers should follow a few basic points:

1) Handling tarpon out of the water B It is best not to lift the tarpon out of the water by their jaw. Since their connective tissue isn=t designed to hold their weight, lifting tarpon by the jaw may tear muscles that they use for eating, and make it difficult for them to eat after being released.  If you want a picture of the tarpon, or need to weigh it for a tournament, it is best to support the tarpon=s body from underneath, near the head and the anal fin. 

2) Keep away from the gills B the filaments of fish gills are thin, fragile structures.  They must be thin to allow the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the water and the tarpon=s blood.  Damage to these structures can be damaging to the tarpon=s chance of survival after being released.  Even with best intentions, by placing your hands under the gill covers to lift a tarpon you run the risk of damaging the gill filaments, so this practice is best avoided.

3) Helping tarpon recover before release B Fish gills are designed for water to flow in the mouth and out through the gill covers to maximize the amount of oxygen that is transferred from the water to the blood, and to maximize the carbon dioxide that is transferred from the blood to the water.  When helping a tarpon recover prior to release, it is best to orient the fish so water passes into the mouth rather than swish the fish forward and back.  Facing the tarpon into a current or holding it alongside a slowly moving boat are good strategies.

Diet and Feeding
Tarpon certainly have preferences for what prey they like to eat, but they are also opportunists.  On some days, tarpon will take advantage of any unsuspecting prey they come across.  On other days, they will eat only a specific prey B such as when they are feeding almost exclusively on pass crabs at Boca Grande or during the >worm hatch= in the Florida Keys.  Figuring out the tarpon=s preferences for the day is part of the fun and challenge of fishing for them. 

Research of other predatory fish species, like Northern Pike, for example, shows a consistent angle of attack.  In most situations, these fish attack their prey at an angle of about 45 degrees.  The limited research that has been done on tarpon suggests that tarpon also frequently attack prey from a 45 degree angle.  It doesn=t take much imagination to use this information in your tarpon fishing strategies.

Like many predatory fish, tarpon attack their prey first by a rapid rush just prior to grabbing the prey.  Small lures, such as flies, can actually get pushed away by the bow-wake from a forward rushing tarpon.  Tarpon then suddenly expanding their mouth cavity to create a vacuum that sucks the prey, and the water surrounding the prey, into the tarpon=s mouth.  This is often accompanied by a swift upward movement of the head in the direction of the prey.  It=s only after the tarpon closes its moth, as it turns away, that the prey (or bait or lure) is captured. 

Anglers talking about Pass crabs are likely talking about the Iridescent Swimming Crab (Portunus gibbesi).  These crabs are members of the swimming crab family, the same family that contains blue crabs.  All members of this family of crabs have paddles on the ends of their rearmost legs, which enables them to swim.

Long Distance Travelers
Adult tarpon are capable of long distance migrations.  We know, for example, that tarpon that spend summer in North Carolina migrate at least as far as the Florida Keys in the fall.  It seems that this fall migration is timed to coincide with the southward migration of mullet, so the tarpon are ensured of good meals during their travels.

Tarpons= travels take them across state lines and international borders.  Recent research using satellite tags has revealed that tarpon tagged in Louisiana may travel as far as southwest Florida or to Mexico in a short period of time.  The tarpon that spend spring and summer in southwest Florida migrate south toward the Keys in fall, and many continue migrating to locations as yet unknown.   So it is worth noting that the next 150 pounder you catch might well be an experienced international traveler. 

The ability of tarpon to migrate long distances has ensured some connections among populations throughout their range.  Recent genetics research has shown that, with the exception of Costa Rica, there is mixing among the populations of tarpon throughout the Caribbean and Western Atlantic.  This is very important information for the long-term management of tarpon, and the sustainability of the fishery.  It may be that anglers in Florida are depending upon the management of tarpon in Mexico, or Belize, or elsewhere.  Or it may be that anglers in those other regions are depending upon Florida anglers to ensure future generations of tarpon for them. 
The same characteristics that make tarpon such a respected gamefish B their strength, size, and mystery B also make them an especially challenging species to manage.  Tarpon anglers interested in sustaining the fishery need to recognize the international resume of this great gamefish.

Responsible Angling
Hook selection can make a difference.  Since tarpon are such great fighters, they tend to take a lot of terminal tackle with them.  Conventional wisdom is that hooks that will corrode from the tarpon=s mouth after a few weeks are best.  The angler simply has to care for these hooks by rinsing them in freshwater to maintain their strength.  And practicing your knots will reduce line breaks B which will help you land more fish and lose less line and tackle.

Air breathers
As most tarpon anglers know, tarpon posses a very specialized air bladder that in many ways resembles the lungs of air breathing animals.  The tarpon=s airbladder contains spongy tissue that allows them to transfer oxygen from the gulps of air they take in, and to get rid of carbon dioxide.  This gives tarpon an extra source of obtaining oxygen B which is in addition to, rather than instead of, getting oxygen from the water through their gills.  Tarpon get these gulps of air by rolling at the surface and taking mouthfuls of air, which they swallow and pass along to their airbladders. With each roll, they release the old, used gulp of air and take in a mouthful of fresh air.  Often, even if you don=t see a tarpon roll on the surface, you can hear the exhale as that old air is released.  Tarpon will release some of the air in spurts as they swim, so small bubbles on the surface can indicate tarpon swimming below.  This is an especially good way to locate tarpon when exploring the backcountry or on calm mornings with a slick water surface.  Their ability to breath air allows tarpon to take advantage of backwaters that other large fish can=t because of the low oxygen that often occurs in these areas.  There are plenty of small fish to feed on in these areas, so  airbreathing tarpon have these feasts all to themselves.

As you might suspect, a hooked tarpon expends a lot of energy during a fight, and like an athlete, needs to take in more oxygen to supply the muscles .  Their airbreathing ability is a great way to increase the amount of oxygen they can get to their muscles.  This is one reason experienced anglers use rod leverage and rod angle to keep tarpon from taking gulps of fresh air B it causes the tarpon to tire faster, which shortens the fight and sends the tarpon on it=s way in better shape than after a prolonged battle.   

All material copyright Aaron Adams 2007, 2008, and beyond, unless noted.