can you eat tarpon in florida

Also, Tarpon fishing gear is limited to hook and line only. This fish is known all throughout Florida, and it can jump as far as 10 feet from the water and rattles its gills, so it sounds like a rattlesnake. Tarpon feeding is known to go wrong – there are “fails” videos all over the internet where people get dragged in by overzealous tarpon. Same as the tarpon, there is nothing that makes the saltwater catfish inedible. Tarpon are thick in the passes. This is all to say that the tarpon is just another fish species with, albeit, unusual habits, but nothing that makes them particularly inedible. Rather, their mouths are the consistency of sandpaper. It definitely hurts a tarpon and reduces the chances of survival to reach inside the gill plate so far that you grab the gills, so we are really left with holding it by the mouth. There are two species of tarpon, the Atlantic tarpon and the Indo-Pacific tarpon. One recipe you can try is preparing the fish like a standard fish fry: roll it in flour and panko bread crumbs along with your seasonings of choice and fry it until its lightly browned. Bon Appetit! The bottom line is that you can find/catch tarpon somewhere in Florida every month of the year. There are many obstacles to catching the tarpon and for the saltwater catfish, challenges to handling and processing them. The short answer is yes, both tarpon and catfish are completely edible. I am an avid life long fisherman, having caught over 25,000 fish over the years. Although there is nothing that actually makes these species officially inedible, there are a few things you may want to consider before preparing them for dinner. Regarding the tarpon, unless you enjoy drowning your meals in strong spices and other flavors, preparing a meal from this catch may not be for you. The fish thrashes around, and the angler is caught by one of the barbs. Injuries typically occur when a fisherman is attempting to remove the hook from the fish’s mouth. Even though they’re […] Eating Guidelines for Freshwater Fish from Florida Waters LOCATION COUNTY SPECIES Alafia River Hillsborough, Polk Alligator Lake Osceola Alligator Alley (I-75) Canals Broward Alapaha River Hamilton Alligator Lake Columbia 1 In the way of the catfish, the choice to cook it poses more of a challenge because of the hazards it presents. My life-long passion for fishing began when my father taught me how to fish at the age of ten. There are two species of tarpon, the Atlantic tarpon and the Indo-Pacific tarpon. This fish is known all throughout Florida, and it can jump as far as 10 feet from the water and rattles its gills, so it sounds like a rattlesnake. Prized by fishermen for its spirited antics at the end of a fishing line, the adult tarpon can measure 8 feet or longer and weigh 200 to 300 pounds. I guess you could eat them if dying of starvation, but the bones and texture of meat make them quite unappealing. Lake Tarpon is a 2,534-acre Fish Management Area near Tarpon Springs, in Pinellas County. Lake Tarpon is rated among the top 10 bass fishing lakes in Florida and fishing is an always-popular activity. This ancient species is also known for its unusual habit of swimming to the water’s surface to “gulp” air, which allows them to effectively breathe through their swim bladder. We've got you covered. Florida's freshwater fish—fun to catch, good to eat & healthy too! 521 Athens St. Link to this page from your webpage or blog. Unfortunately, these fish are not considered to be particularly a “prize” catch. Tarpon are known to “roll” or “gulp” air, and their unique swim bladder serves as a pseudo-respiratory organ. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, tarpon are not eaten. Tarpon is a fish that is prized as a gamefish because it puts up a good fight. Dog Friendly Tarpon Springs, FL Tarpon Springs is pet friendly! It's for people who want to have the actual fish mounted, not just a fiberglass rep. Although it doesn’t taste particularly bad, its flavor doesn’t exactly make up for its smell or the excessive amount of bones you have to pick through to enjoy it. The choice of whether or not to cook the tarpon or catfish is completely up to you. Basic guidelines for eating freshwater fish from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Although it may seem like a disadvantage, it actually allows the tarpon to survive in low-oxygen waters, as they have their “gulping” method to sustain them. Along with these serrated spines comes a mild toxin which won’t put you in the hospital, but will definitely make your any punctures or scratches hurt a lot more. Orvis vice chairman Dave Perkins landed this beauty in Florida. 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