2026 regulation year
Florida Tarpon 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Megalops atlanticus
Last updated
Tarpon (silver king) are catch-and-release by default in Florida. The only legal route to harvest is a $50 Tarpon Tag, issued for record-pursuit purposes — and even then, possession is one fish per tag.
Season
Open year-round Catch-and-release year-round. Harvest requires Tarpon Tag.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 0 / day (catch-and-release) — 1 with Tarpon Tag
- Possession
- 0 (without tag); 1 with Tarpon Tag
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- No size for release; harvest requires fish over 40 in if tagged
- Trophy rule
- $50 Tarpon Tag required for harvest; limited annual issuance
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line only — no snatch-hooking
- Boca Grande Pass: no breakaway weights, no jig-and-snatch rigs
- Tarpon must remain in water for release if 40+ in
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Florida waters:
Boca Grande Pass
Hook-and-line only, no breakaway weights, no snatch hooks
Florida Keys backcountry
Catch-and-release with leader-touch rule; tag rule for harvest
Homosassa flats
Catch-and-release; world-record pursuit territory historically
Indian River Lagoon
Catch-and-release; landing on grass-flats discouraged
Official source
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission publishes the authoritative 2026 Floridafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.