A University of South Florida study has clarified feeding patterns of the well-known tarpon sportfish. Atlantic tarpon undertake extensive migrations spanning hundreds to thousands of miles along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Until recently, their feeding locations during these travels were poorly understood.
Researchers led by integrative biologist Lucas Griffin integrated five years of electronic tracking information with chemical markers in fish tissues. This combination revealed specific foraging zones that serve as essential refueling sites during annual movements. The work, published in Movement Ecology, showed that tarpon concentrate feeding in particular areas rather than feeding evenly throughout their range.
Three regions stood out as especially significant: South Florida, the northern Gulf of Mexico, and the Mid-Atlantic coast. South Florida proved to be the sole area used consistently by tarpon from different migration groups, highlighting its central role.
Griffin noted that these fish link distant coastlines, from Florida Keys mangroves to Louisiana marshes and the Carolinas. Fish caught in one location may have fed hundreds of miles away the previous season, meaning fisheries across the Southeast rely on habitats far from local waters.
The team examined tissue samples from 417 tarpon and combined them with tracking data from 85 tagged individuals. The analysis indicated that much of the fish’s food is obtained roughly 300 kilometers from capture sites on average. Blood samples captured recent feeding, while fin tissue reflected longer-term patterns.
Because tarpon depend on a small set of productive zones, coastal development, changing water flows, habitat loss, and climate shifts could affect the species across its full range. The method may also help identify feeding areas for other migratory marine species.
Future work will examine the specific prey consumed in each hotspot to support better management of both predator and prey populations.
