Are Tarrpin Fish Protected In Puerto Rico

This is what you can expect when you fish the back-country lagoons of La Torrecilla and San Jose lagoons in San Juan, Puerto Rico with Capt. Juan aboard the Extremist. Tarpon is a unique fish and is protected by law. The fishing is 100% catch & release.

Can you keep a tarpon if you catch it?

​Tarpon is a catch-and-release only species in the state of Florida. You cannot keep any tarpon unless you have a special permit to harvest them. It is considered harvesting if you lift a tarpon larger than 40 inches out of the water.

Is tarpon fishing illegal?

The Tarpon fish, as well as the bonefish and permit are three catch and release species. It is illegal to kill them.

Are there tarpon in Puerto Rico?

San Juan, PR is home to some of the best tarpon fishing in the world. Light tackle and fly fishing enthusiasts journey from all over the world to fish the brackish waters of Laguna San Jose and Laguna Torrecilla for tarpon, jacks, and snook.

Can you remove tarpon from the water?

If your tarpon is under 40 inches, support its head and belly if you have to take it out of the water but keep air exposure to a minimum. If you land one over 40 inches, avoid removing it from the water. Taking larger tarpon out of the water can cause too much damage and stress and decrease its chances of survival.

Are tarpon federally protected?

Believe it or not, there are no tarpon regulations in federal waters. If you are in federal waters, you could have the deck of your boat filled with dead tarpon and that would not be illegal.

Why are tarpon so protected?

Tarpon are a magnificent gamefish and we want to do our part to make sure that they are around for a long time to come. They are protected by law from killing them without a kill tag (similar to deer hunting) and anglers widely respect this law. Tarpon can also be easily dropped in the boat when they give a big kick.

How many tarpon can you keep?

Gulf and Atlantic State Waters Daily Bag Limit: Tarpon is a catch-and-release only fishery. One tarpon tag per person per year may be purchased when in pursuit of a Florida state or world record. Vessel, transport and shipment limited to one fish.

What is the largest tarpon ever caught?

The all-tackle world record (additionally certified as the 80-pound class record) for a giant tarpon is 286-pounds, 9-ounces caught by Max Domecq in Rubane, Guinea-Bissau, Africa on March 20, 2003.

What size tarpon can I keep?

Anglers are allowed to temporarily possess a tarpon for photos, measurement and scientific sampling. Fish over 40 inches must remain in the water.

Is there good fishing in Puerto Rico?

From tarpon in the flats to spearfishing in lagoons or dropping lures in the deep sea, Puerto Rico offers a wide range of fishing experiences for all levels. In San Juan, it’s easy to find a fishing charter near San Juan Bay Marina. Trips usually include bait and tackle, light snacks and beverages, and expert captains.

What fish are in season in Puerto Rico?

Fishing Seasons Blue Marlin Season: June-November with the best months of the run being August-October. Wahoo Season: November-April. Mahi Mahi Seasons: North Coast November-December. Tuna Season: Tuna can be caught throughout most of the year. Tarpon Season: November-May.

Are there largemouth bass in Puerto Rico?

The ‘tucunare’ (Peacock bass) and the ‘lobina’ (Largemouth bass) are the two most important sport fish in the fresh waters of Puerto Rico, because they put up a good fight.

Why can you not eat tarpon?

Tarpon are rarely eaten because their flesh is filled with small, hard to clean bones. In the United States, the tarpon usually is caught for sport — and then released. As a bony, strong-smelling saltwater fish, it may be more trouble than pleasure to eat. Are Tarpon a Protected Species?.

Can you swim with tarpon?

Even though a large school of tarpons is harmless, it is best to swim with them at a distance. Swimming with these big fish will give you an experience you will never forget in your life. Tarpons are also found in waters surrounding Florida, primarily around Miami.

Do people fish for tarpon?

Tarpon is one of the most popular game fish in Florida. Tarpon is edible but people rarely eat them because their meat contains a lot of small bones and it’s reported that they don’t taste very good.

Are tarpon fresh or saltwater fish?

Habitat of the Tarpon They occupy primarily saltwater, but also range into freshwater. The Indo-Pacific species in particular lives in freshwater more frequently than the Atlantic species. Some of the different habitats that they live in include bays, coastal regions, open ocean, estuaries, lagoons, and more.

Is tarpon catch and release?

The vast majority of people and tarpon tournaments in the U.S. nowadays practice catch and release only, with the main exception being a small number of people in pursuit of IGFA records.

Can you fish for tarpon in Florida?

Tarpon are available in the rivers year-round, but the best fishing takes place in the late spring summer months. Fish of all sizes converge on menhaden and other baitfish up the St. Lucie River. They feed into the current along channel edges in the Indian River Lagoon.

Why do tarpon jump out of the water?

Because you hook them up in shallow water, you can actually land them with a fly rod. If you hooked a fish that size with a fly in 50 feet of water, you might fight it for hours. But because the tarpon are in the shallows, they jump instead of dive, and the jumping tires them out.

How hard is it to catch a tarpon?

It is very difficult to hook a Tarpon because they have bone-hard mouths and very fine sharp teeth. They are very large fish and those who manage to hook one have the challenge of reeling it in as the fish thrashes and jumps about. Only around 37% of those that manage to get them on the hook actually bring them in.