The recent catch of a giant tarpon off Pensacola Beach, Fla., has sparked criticism regarding the manner by which the fish was handled.
The accompanying image, provided to WEAR ABC 3 News (and shared by other outlets), shows six young men hoisting or posing with the tarpon chest high while they stood knee-deep in water.
Tarpon fishing in Florida is restricted to catch-and-release with the following exception, as stated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC):
“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.”
The FWC adds: “Tarpon over 40 inches MUST remain in the water unless in pursuit of a state or world record using a tarpon tag. Keep tarpon, especially the gills, in as much water as is safely possible.”
It was not clear if the angler who reeled in the tarpon was in possession of a tarpon tag.
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It’s obvious, however, that the tarpon was considerably longer than 40 inches.
Florida Sportsman Magazine commented beneath the WEAR post: “WEAR should probably delete this photo. It’s promoting taking tarpon this size out of the water, which is illegal. Please don’t encourage this type of behavior.”
Sport Fishing Magazine shared the WEAR post and several comments were congratulatory. However, most followers seemed to prefer that regulations are taken seriously.
Reads one comment: “Illegal. Young guys…. Need to keep fish lower. [Instagram] moment got the best of them. Hopefully they got [it] back in water quickly.”
The image was supplied to WEAR by a reader named Mary Enfinger, but catch details were sparse.
The Florida record for tarpon is 243 pounds, for a fish caught off Key West in 1975. The world record stands at 286 pounds, 9 ounces, for a catch off Guinea-Bissau in 2003.
–Image courtesy of Mary Enfinger, via WEAR ABC 3 News