The Tarpon 231 
Aransas Pass, lat. 27° 50’ north, early in March 
of each year, coming from the south. During 
the months of March, April, and May they may 
be seen in schools of six to one hundred, coming 
up the coast from the south. Reaching the deep 
water of the Pass, they congregate in the gorge 
of the Pass for a while, as though to rest and 
feed, and then pursue their journey north along 
the coast to Galveston, Sabine Pass, and other 
points. From the middle of April to the middle 
of May they do not appear to take the hook or 
bait; during this time they are congregated in 
large numbers in the shallow bays and flats and 
can be approached easily in a small boat without 
displaying any alarm, and no lure will tempt 
them to take the hook. Apparently this is their 
spawning season.... During the latter part of 
May and in June the tarpon take the hook 
readily and seem eager for the mullet. 
“The smallest tarpon I have measured was 
2’ 9” long and weighed eleven pounds; but 
September 22, 1897, I hooked a tarpon which 
appeared to be but twelve or thirteen inches 
long. I lost it, so cannot say that I have seen 
the young taken. About the first of December 
the tarpon disappear entirely from the Pass. 
