Response Of Atlantic Tarpon To Catch-And-Release Angling In Puerto Rico

Atlantic tarpon Megalops atlanticus (hereafter referred to as tarpon) is a popular and economically important inshore sport fish in Puerto Rico, and the pursuit of this species by local anglers and tourists contributes to the economy. This species is managed as a no-take fishery, which aims to preserve populations by catching and releasing fish that would otherwise be subjected to harvest and removal from the population. The approach assumes minimal mortality and/or reduced fitness of released fish, yet the process of angling can produce many sub-lethal side effects or direct mortality. In this study, charter angling for tarpon in the San Juan lagoon system in Puerto Rico was examined to determine post-release mortality. Grant no. 2020-2021-007