Common names
Oxeye herring, Herring
Indo-Pacific tarpon
Megalops cyprinoides
- Mixed
Max length59 in
Common length11.75 in
Length typeTotal Length
Max weight39 lb 11 oz
Min Depth164 ft
Max age44 years
Water typeMixed
Fish info
IUCN Vulnerability status
Short description
Indo-Pacific tarpon is similar in appearance to the much larger Atlantic tarpon. Olive-green on top, and silver on the sides. The large mouth is turned upwards, 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. It is capable of filling its swim bladder (a modified organ that helps them maintain buoyancy and their position in the water column) with air, by gulping air from the surface of the water and absorbing oxygen from it. Those living in freshwater tend to be smaller than the ones living in saltwater, growing just over 50 cm (20 in), while saltwater examples grow over 1 m (3.3 ft).
Habitat
Commonly found by the surface in shallow, inshore waters. They inhabit the open sea, coral reefs, mangroves, swamps, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, floodplains, and canals.
Distribution
The Indo-Pacific tarpon is found from the coasts of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula to the coastal waters of South Asia, Southeast Asia, southern Japan, French Polynesia, and southern Australia.
Behaviour
They are opportunistic, feeding on smaller fish, crustaceans, and even plants rarely. In salt water, they mainly feed on prawns and herring, but also many other small fish. In freshwater, no significant difference in their food habits is seen; they eat freshwater prawns and bony bream, mainly. The Indo-Pacific tarpon migrates between the open sea and inland rivers (amphidromous behaviour). It spawns mainly offshore. Juveniles of the species stay inshore and migrate to coastal areas while maturing to spawn. Typically, they spawn twice a year. Unlike the barramundi, they are able to breed in fresh and salt water.
Edibility
Tarpon are well known not to be good to eat. They have many small bones that make the fish hard to clean and have smelly and distasteful meat.
Lure suggestion
A variety of artificial lures are suitable for Indo-pacific tarpon, but most local anglers seem to favour small plastic grubs, topwater lures and metallic spoons. Fly anglers usually cast streamers that imitate small baitfish. Good bait: chunks of ladyfish/mullet or live ladyfish/pinfish, crabs or shrimp.