Can You Eat Tarpon?
Swimming throughout the world’s seas and rivers, fish are some of the most fascinating aquatic creatures on this earth. You know what else? Fish are also some of the most delicious things to exist within the globe’s waterways. So, what happens when you come across a tarpon fish and it looks mighty tasty?
Catching fish is typically done for sport, recreation, or survival. So, if reeling in some tarpon happens to be on your schedule, it’s understandable to wonder “can you eat tarpon”? Well, it depends on a few factors.
What Are Tarpons?
Tarpons are marine fish that can be found in parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, particularly in coastal areas. Known as the “silver king” because of their metallic, shiny scales, and massive size (they can grow to more than eight feet long), these fish are known to be feisty fighters when anglers manage to hook them.
Tarpons have the singular distinction of being the only fish in their genus, Megalopidae. While these fish are often found in saltwater, they also have a specialized organ that allows them to make their way into freshwater and survive. These fish have unique swim bladders that store air and allow them to swim in almost any type of water, even if it is considerably brackish or oxygen deprived.
Tarpons have been known to visit rivers and are famous for jumping out of the water and gulping air for an oxygen boost when they need it. However, this is also why, on occasion, tarpons can actually pose a “significant physical risk” to people boating or fishing in their environments.
These acrobatic fish can come flying unexpectedly out of the water. As tarpons are large and heavy fish, these guys can do a lot of damage on impact. Between their size and aggressive nature, tarpons are a coveted prize for sports anglers. Being able to reel one in is a proud moment for people who fish.
So, after that kind of challenge, is there a yummy payoff for managing to wrangle a tarpon?
Tarpon Fish Have Some Regulated Protection
Before thinking about tasting tarpon fish, you need to consider whether or not it would be legal to do so. In the U.S., states with prominent tarpon fishing (particularly in the Southeast) tend to also have strict rules about what to do with tarpon after it’s caught. For example, Florida, and many other states, have a set “catch and release” policy for tarpons.
In fact, there are rules within those rules. Tarpon conservation specialists continually try and find ways to make “catch and release” a safer fishing method. One of the concerns is that if the tarpon is traumatized during the catch, the fish will be less healthy upon release. This can drive tarpon populations down and give predators like sharks an unfair advantage.
In fact, a “2020 study by the University of Miami” found that Atlantic tarpon populations have decreased over the past 18 years. Part of this is due to how other countries treat and protect tarpon fish. Tarpon is a popular game fish throughout the world, and in some places, a coveted food item.
From that, you can probably draw an inference that tarpon is, at least, edible. So, why don’t you hear more about people eating tarpon fish? Well, legality has a lot to do with it.
Can You Buy Tarpon Meat?
In the U.S., items that are afforded federal and state protection aren’t typically widely available for consumer purchase. The only way to get such things is by going through the black market. However, things sold on the black market aren’t just illegal. These items also aren’t particularly safe to consume because they lack regulation.
In “some countries” , including Mexico, the West Indies, Africa, Panama, and some South American countries, tarpon fish is a special find and occasionally sold as a delicacy. Indo-Pacific tarpon is prevalent from Southeast Asia to Central America and there are populations among those areas that also consume tarpon fish.
In many countries, food sources are based on what is available. That’s why most places (including the U.S.) often have regional cuisine that is based on staple crops and available animals and fish. For example, coastal regions are typically popular for their seafood dishes because those places have ample access to oceans. Outside of the U.S., some areas that have open access to tarpon fish populations may use it as a food source out of availability and necessity.
Even with that being the case, tarpon recipes aren’t exactly a hot topic for cookbooks or food blogs. Besides legality, there is another reason for that.
What Does Tarpon Taste Like?
First and foremost, the tarpon is an extremely bony fish. In fact, the massive bone content of the tarpon serves as a defense mechanism as well as a predatory assist for the fish. It protects them and helps them catch prey.
There are bones all over and throughout the tarpon’s body. That’s part of the reason that these fish grow to be so heavy. It’s not their flesh, it’s their bone mass. In fact, you’ll find a lot more bone in a tarpon than meat.
And when the meat is found, it is full of bone. One of the top predators of tarpon is the shark because it is one of the only aquatic creatures that is able to consume and digest tarpon fish.
Another downside to tarpon meat is its flavor. Tarpon meat is said to have a very strong odor that is overwhelmingly fishy. It has also been reported that tarpon meat is not particularly flavorful as far as fish is concerned.
There is some speculation that the fight is much better than the feast when it comes to tarpon fish. Between the countless bones and lackluster taste, tarpon just doesn’t seem to be a fish that most cooks want to take the time to prepare.
So, can you eat tarpon? Technically, yes, you can — but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should, or that’s it really that good.
You can also read:
