Tarpon

A 100 lb fish that jumps like a bass. The Gulf beach migration is a bucket-list bite.

Megalops atlanticus · Also known as: Silver king, poon. Ideal water temp 76–84°F.

Habitat & structure

Beach troughs and bars during the May–July migration, passes and bay mouths, river mouths late summer. Rolls on the surface to gulp air — look before you cast.

Where they’re biting

Apalachicola Bay — West Pass and the beach line, June–August.
Port St. Joe & Cape San Blas — Migrating strings along Cape San Blas in early summer.
Galveston Bay — The old "Tarpon Alley" nearshore fishery fires late summer.

Season by season

Season	Best bait	Best lures	Notes
Spring	Live crabs on the hill tides	Swimbaits, DOA Baitbuster-style plugs	First pushes arrive as water crosses 74°F.
Summer	Pass crabs, threadfins, mullet	Big soft plastics presented ahead of rolling fish	Peak migration. Circle hooks, heavy leader, revive fish fully.
Fall	Mullet during the run	Swimming plugs at river mouths	Stragglers follow the mullet run south.
Winter	—	—	Gone south / offshore. Juveniles winter in warm backwaters.

Preferred water temperature

Active from 74°F to 88°F — sweet spot 76–84°F. Watch the live water temp on our location pages.

Weather, light & cloud cover

Dawn glass-calm beach mornings are prime for sight-casting rolling schools. They spook badly in bright midday sun and boat traffic. Fish the edges of light around bridges at night.

Proven for tarpon

Live Finger Mullet — Live bait · summer / fall. Castnet your own at dawn along shorelines. During the fall mullet run, everything eats them.

What should you throw today?

Get a live lure pick from the smart lure tool, browse the full lure & bait database, or go back to all species guides.