Throughout their range, the Silver King demands respect as a long-lived gamefish and an angling feat. Yet, many states have failed to adequately protect this incredible resource. Today, Florida’s regulations are the most protective and should be the standard across the tarpon’s expanding range. Unlike many states along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, Florida correctly understood the economic multiplier that catch and release tarpon angling brings to its communities, and properly protected the resource and the countless communities that depend on it. Today, groups like the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust are working to protect the Silver King throughout its range with common-sense fishing regulations—especially in the Gulf states, where tarpon harvest is disappointingly common.
Tarpon protections have come a long way in the last two decades. The public’s acceptance of wanton tarpon killing, however, has changed dramatically. Back in the mid-20th century, dead tarpon littering docks was a far-too-common occurrence throughout the Southeast.
Tarpon are a long-lived species that can survive for nearly 80 years but are slow-growing and reach reproductive maturity around age 10. These characteristics make tarpon incredibly vulnerable to overfishing. Well, that happened throughout much of the Southeast, and populations declined. Recognizing the benefits that tarpon brought to the Sunshine State, Florida has consistently been at the forefront of advancing tarpon regulations. Whether it was precautionary 2-fish bag limits in the 1950s or the tag-based program implemented in the 80s, Florida, largely due to concern and advocacy from fishing guides, Florida has led the way on protecting Tarpon after witnessing how quickly these populations were affected.
“Tarpon are slow growing, don’t become sexually mature until around 10 years old, and are long lived (the maximum age is up to 78 years,” said BTT Director of Science and Conservation Dr. Aaron Adams. “These characteristics make tarpon especially vulnerable to population declines, and population recovery takes a very long time. Protecting tarpon populations now is essential to ensuring there is a fishery in the future.”
Today, Florida touts the most restrictive tarpon regs in the country, which is a good thing. These regs, particularly the prohibition on removing tarpon larger than 40″, should be the model in every state where tarpon can be caught.
Other States’ Tarpon Regs?
- Louisiana: No regulations.
- Mississippi: 1 tarpon/day, must be greater than 75″. Tarpon over 40″ must be left in the water unless the angler intends to harvest.
- Alabama: Largely catch and release, but tarpon greater than 60″ can be harvested with a tag.
- Texas: 1 tarpon/day, must be greater than 85″
- Georgia: 1 tarpon/day, must be greater than 68″.
- South Carolina: 1 tarpon/day, must be greater than 77″
- North Carolina: Strictly catch and release, no harvest allowed.
- Virginia: Strictly catch and release, any size tarpon may not be removed from the water, and non-offset/corrodible circle hooks must be used when targeting tarpon with bait.
Louisiana Tarpon Reversal
Louisiana, the Sportsman Capital of the World, is home to incredible fisheries, but the state has a very poor track record when it comes to conservation-minded management. During the 2026 Louisiana legislative session, House Bill 688 proposed adding tarpon as an official gamefish. While this bill did not formally include specific tarpon regulations, it would have opened the door for the state to promulgate conservation measures, according to local reporting and conservation organizations.
Despite unanimous support and limited immediate impact, HB688 was vetoed by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry–disappointing is an understatement. In his veto letter, Landry wrote, “This legal designation is completely unnecessary.” All the while, Louisiana’s “Rodeo” tournaments will continue killing adult tarpon for nothing more than an ego boost. Louisiana, again, finds itself on the wrong side of fisheries conservation.
According to Dr. Adams, Louisiana’s tarpon fishery is unique because this habitat serves as a mixing zone for two sub-populations of tarpon. This makes tarpon protections all the more important and science-based. Louisiana Governor Landry is clearly not up-to-date on any level of tarpon science, or he just doesn’t care.
“BTT is focused on ensuring reasonable protections for tarpon along their Gulf and Atlantic migrations. It’s disappointing that Louisiana will not be joining the many other states that recognize the importance of their tarpon fisheries, despite overwhelming support from their Legislature,” said Kellie Ralston, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust’s Vice President for Conservation & Public Policy. “Louisiana currently has no tarpon regulations. Providing tarpon with game-fish status would have allowed the state to publicly and cooperatively develop thoughtful regulations, as they have for other recreational species that support the state’s estimated $3 billion recreational fishing economy and almost 24,000 jobs.”
Virginia Secures Protections
For years now, tarpon have migrated to Virginia and found refuge in the commonwealth’s estuaries, feasting on crabs and menhaden. This fishery was largely kept under wraps by the few who were willing to suffer in exchange for a bow. But, like many things, the effect of social media exerts more and more pressure on this fishery. Did Virginia have a tarpon harvest problem, either commercial or recreational? No, it did not; the fishery consists mostly of die-hard anglers who understand the respect tarpon deserve. With no formal protections and a likely expanding fishery, Virginia’s seasonal tarpon were vulnerable. Why wait to learn the fate that unrestricted harvest had on the Gulf? Why not foster and support an incredible fishery that has very limited food value, but immense recreational and economic value? Well, that’s exactly what the Commonwealth did. Unlike Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who viewed gamefish designation as a “solution in search of a problem,” The Virginia Marine Resources Commission viewed tarpon regulations as a way to get ahead of the problem—one that we all know would come. On May 26, 2026, VMRC unanimously adopted strict catch and release regulations: no recreational or commercial possession of tarpon, and fish may not be removed from the water.
Practice Catch and Release
Regardless of what the tarpon regulations are in your state, catch and release is always encouraged. Going one layer deeper, the single best thing you can do to ensure a safe, healthy release is to leave that fish in the water. And if you have any level of influence or following, don’t be this guy.
For a more in-depth review of best practices for releasing tarpon, check out these easy-to-understand BTT C&R Recommendations.
Tarpon fishing depends on healthy tarpon populations. Considering the pressure on these fish today, effective catch and release and conservation-minded regulations are all the more important. Thankfully, groups like BTT are at the forefront of developing critical tarpon science to address necessary management reforms.
