Sanibel Island :

Tarpon (Megalops atlantica)

Scientific classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Elopiformes
Family: Megalopidae
Genus: Megalops

Conditions were perfect. As the fisherman eased his canoe around a mangrove-fringed point, metallic backs of tarpon parted the surface. Tense fingers fumbled to tie a lure (resembling a small shiny fish) to the line.

After the second cast, the surface shattered. A tarpon launched skyward, shaking its head furiously. On a taught line, the lure jumped from the fish's mouth and sailed back, smacking the canoe's hull. As the angler cursed himself for losing such a short battle, fat, slow ripples rolled from where the tarpon had emerged.

Tarpon are found on both sides of the Atlantic and range as far north as Nova Scotia (although they usually don't occur north of Cape Hatteras), and extend southward to Brazil.

Spawning may occur in Florida from May to September in shallow estuarine waters. One of the most prolific of fishes, a large female may contain up to 12 million eggs.

Although predatory, feeding on mullets, silversides, marine catfishes and blue crabs, tarpon are often caught by anglers using dead fish. These spectacular gamefish reach very large sizes. One Florida specimen was 8 feet long and weighed 350 pounds.

Obligatory air breathers, tarpon are often seen surfacing. Look for the "silver king" around both the Florida Bay and Whitewater sides of the marina and in the bay in front of the Flamingo visitor center.

This exceptionally fine creature is a prehistoric animal and the only fish with an air bladder. This allows it to absorb oxygen and live in waters with very low oxygen content. You can see them gulp air at the water surface. Tarpon are also called poons, tarpum, sabalo real, cuffum, silverfish or silver king and belong to the bony fish family Elopidae. The Latin designation is Megalops atlanticus. While only microscopic at birth, tarpon have been documented at lengths of more than eight feet and weighing 280 pounds. Catches weighing more than 200 pounds, while uncommon, do occur. Many fish caught are well over 100 pounds. Their growth rate is slow, taking 8 to 10 years to reach maturity, and generally those over 100 pounds are female. Tarpon can live 55 to 60 years. They are greenish or bluish on top, and silver on the sides. The large mouth is turned upwards and the lower jaw contains an elongated bony plate. The last ray of the dorsal fin is much longer than the others, reaching nearly to the tail.

• Roseate Spoonbill