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Tarpon can grow up to about 8 feet long and weigh up to 280 pounds, but the more common size is 4 feet and 80 - 100 pounds. Their lifespan can be up to 50 years or more.

Interesting Facts

Tarpon are known for their acrobatics and can jump 10 feet out of the water and swim up to 35 mph.

They are close relatives of Skipjack and Ladyfish.

Although they are edible, people rarely eat them because of their small, hard-to-clean bones.

Tarpon has been around for a long time - 125 million years kind of time!

Tarpon are capable of filling themselves with air. This gives it a predatory advantage when oxygen levels in the water are low.

Spawning

Tarpon spawn offshore in warm, secluded areas, usually in late spring to late summer and with a full moon or new moon cycle. 

The sperm and egg are all released into the water in a process referred to as broadcast spawning. The female tarpons will release up to 12 million eggs at a time. Once the eggs are fertilized, they float on top of the water. The eggs look like transparent ribbons, which make it difficult for predators to notice. The eggs will absorb the nutrients in the water through the skin. 

After hatching, they enter the juvenile stage, remaining in the shallow water until they have developed into an adult.