Tarpon regulations in Florida

· Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Tarpon is closed to harvest. Release it.

Tarpon size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
statewide	Catch-and-release only	Catch-and-release only (tag required to possess for a record)	Catch-and-release only

Notes

Catch-and-release only; fish over 40 inches must stay in the water. A tarpon tag is required to possess one for a record.

Exact Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wording

Season: Catch-and-release only
Size: Catch-and-release only (tag required to possess for a record)
Limit: Catch-and-release only
statewide — as printed: “Tarpon is a catch-and-release only fishery. One tarpon tag per person per year may be purchased when in pursuit of a Florida state or world record. Tarpon over 40 inches MUST remain in the water.”

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, captured 2026-10-01 (2026 season).

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About the tarpon

Species of fish

The Atlantic tarpon is a ray-finned fish that inhabits coastal waters, estuaries, lagoons, and rivers. It is also known as the silver king. It is found in the Atlantic Ocean, typically in tropical and subtropical regions, though it has been reported as far north as Nova Scotia and the Atlantic coast of southern France, and as far south as Argentina. As with all elopiformes, it spawns at sea. Its diet includes small fish and crustaceans.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, not Wikipedia.

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Frequently asked

What is the size limit for Tarpon in Florida?

Catch-and-release only (tag required to possess for a record) in Florida state waters.

How many Tarpon can you keep per day in Florida?

Catch-and-release only.

When is Tarpon season in Florida?

Open year-round.

Is my Tarpon a keeper today?

Tarpon is closed to harvest. Release it.