36 H aw aiian F is h e s 



Tarpon 



Also known as the Ten-Pounder, Jackmariddle, and sometimes 



erroneously called Awa-awa 



13-1 Elops machnata (Forskal) 



Drawn from Jordan & Evermonn 



The tarpon is a large fish reaching a length of six or eight feet and 

 weighing as much as three hundred pounds. Their bodies are elongated 

 and slender and are covered with a sheath of large scales. Most of the 

 members of the family have the last ray of the dorsal and the anal fins 

 developed into a long filament. This species, however, does not possess 

 the filament. In color, the tarpon is uniform bluish above, and silvery on 

 the sides and belly. The tail is forked. 



The tarpon is regarded by sport fisherman as one of the best game 

 fishes in the sea. An active and speedy swimmer, it shakes its head when 

 hooked and is somewhat difficult to capture. In Florida waters, it is 

 regarded as the greatest of all game fishes. 



The tarpon is reported to live on mullet and to chase them into 

 estuaries. They have the habit of leaping eight or ten feet out of the 

 water and spreading their gill covers. They apparently live in schools. 



The tarpon is widely distributed in all tropical seas. It is found in 

 both the tropical Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and occurs in the waters 

 bordering the Hawaiian Islands. 



THE BONEFISH FAMILY 



Also known as the Ladyfish or Grubber Family 

 14 Family Albultdae 

 The members of the bonefish family are brilliant silvery fishes of 

 moderate size and are widely distributed in the warm seas of the globe. 



