Even the most experienced angler or fishing guide in Maryland would be surprised to find schools of hard-fighting tarpon in the upper half of the bay, but that’s exactly what happened earlier this month.

There’s little argument that tarpon are the ultimate inshore fish on the South Atlantic coast. They get big: the world record is nearly 300 pounds, and fish over 300 pounds have been reported but not certified as records. They’re fast and jump cleanly out of the water. They’re hard to catch. They’re smart and never give up. You can actually hear it when you’ve hooked one, the screeching of the drag and the clatter of the gill plates on a jumping fish.

Tarpon have been a reliable presence in Virginia for decades. Most of these migrants spend the summer along Virginia’s eastern shore. A few migrants are spotted or hooked in the bay each year, but never in large numbers. But that may be changing, as more tarpon have been spotted in the Maryland portion of the bay this year.

Tarpon are not completely unknown in Maryland. In 2019, a small stray was caught by researchers near Kent Island. In 2020, an angler north of the Virginia border caught a tarpon estimated to be 6 feet long. Erik Zolkovitz, Maryland Department of Natural Resources recreational fishing outreach coordinator, said, “This year is the first time we’ve received multiple reports of schools of tarpon, not just one stray fish.”

Captain Tom Weaver of Fish with Weaver Charters is one of this year’s tarpon spotters. On August 1^sthe was slowly searching for redfish at Hooper Island Lighthouse when he noticed movement in the water ahead of him. Fishing out of Annapolis, he didn’t expect to come across a small school of seven or eight tarpon. He estimated their weight to be up to 100 pounds. He cast a line and got a bite, but since he wasn’t prepared for a tarpon, the tarpon won.

Captain Weaver posted this video of the school of tarpon just below the surface:

According to Weaver, he and two other charter captains discovered the small school on January 1.^st. The tarpon were staying in a specific area. He tried to follow them to get more shots. After about 90 minutes, he lost sight of the fish. “I’m now on the lookout for them and I carry several rods and lures to catch them if I see them again,” he said. “I’ve only seen them once this year. I’m on the water seven days a week, weather permitting.”

It is too early to say whether this is an unusual summer or a trend where more tarpon are moving further north each year.

Tarpon are generally considered very poor food, and catch-and-release is common among anglers. In fact, tarpon can only be caught and released in Florida. That state also dictates how much a tarpon can be handled after being caught. Unfortunately, tarpon are not regulated in Virginia or Maryland, and progressive fisheries managers need to change that. An excellent source of information on tarpon is the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, a science-based, nonprofit conservation organization that focuses on bonefish, tarpon, permits, and the ecosystems that support these species. In addition to focusing on factors that threaten tarpon populations, such as habitat loss and water pollution, BTT also promotes best practices for catching and handling tarpon.

If tarpon anglers act responsibly, the chance of survival after release is high. However, if tarpon are fought for too long or handled too much on the boat, the chance of them dying after release increases significantly. Here’s how to best fish for and handle tarpon if you do indeed encounter one.