Atlantic Tarpon

The silver king. With its impressive acrobatic leaps and coin-sized scales, the tarpon is one of the most exciting sport fish. Surprisingly, it inhabits the freshwater of the Panama Canal.

Megalops atlanticus, the tarpon or silver king, is an iconic fish of tropical American waters reaching 2.5 meters and 160 kg. Its silvery body with large, shiny scales gives it the name "silver king." It is famous for its spectacular acrobatic leaps when hooked. A fascinating peculiarity: it can breathe atmospheric air thanks to its swim bladder modified as a primitive lung, allowing it to survive in low-oxygen waters. This adaptation has enabled it to colonize the fresh waters of Gatun Lake in the Panama Canal, making it a unique freshwater tarpon fishing destination.

Habitat

Gatun Lake, Chagres River, and Caribbean coastal waters of Panama