Atlantic tarpon are famous for their long-distance migrations, traveling hundreds or even thousands of miles (hundreds to thousands of kilometers) along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. But where they feed along those journeys has remained largely unknown until now.

In a new study, a team of researchers led by University of South Florida integrative biologist Lucas Griffin combined five years of electronic tracking data and chemical signatures preserved in fish tissues to identify the key feeding areas that sustain tarpon during their annual migrations.

The study, published in Movement Ecology, found that tarpon do not feed randomly across their range. Instead, they rely on distinct "foraging landscapes" that act as fueling stations during migration.

The researchers identified three especially important feeding regions:

• South Florida
• The northern Gulf of Mexico
• The Mid-Atlantic coast

South Florida emerged as the only region consistently used by tarpon from multiple migratory groups, underscoring its importance to the species.

"These fish connect coastlines that look completely separate on a map—from the mangroves of the Florida Keys to the marshes of Louisiana and the Carolinas," Griffin said. "The tarpon someone catches in the Keys might have spent the previous summer feeding in the northern Gulf. So fisheries across the Southeast depend on habitats hundreds of miles away—damage one place, and anglers feel it up and down the coast."

The team analyzed tissue samples from 417 tarpon and linked the data with 85 acoustically tagged fish, whose movements, behaviors and migration patterns were tracked using sound waves. By combining the two data sets, they could estimate not only where fish traveled but also where they had most likely been feeding.

The findings revealed that tarpon often obtain much of their food hundreds of kilometers from where they were captured and sampled, with the most probable foraging areas averaging about 300 kilometers (185 miles) away. Shorter-term blood samples reflected more recent, localized feeding, while longer-term fin-clip tissues captured broader feeding patterns over several months.

The findings also have important conservation implications. Because tarpon depend on a limited number of productive feeding areas, threats from coastal development, altered freshwater flows, habitat loss or climate change don't just harm one region—they could weaken the fishery across the entire range.

Beyond tarpon, the researchers say their approach offers a new framework for studying other migratory marine species whose feeding habitats have been difficult to identify. By pinpointing the places that provide the energy needed for migration, scientists and resource managers can better protect the ecosystems that support healthy fish populations and sustainable recreational fisheries.

"The next step is sorting out exactly what tarpon are eating in each of these hotspots," Griffin said. "Once we know what type of prey they depend on across the regions—menhaden, mullet, anchovies, crabs—we can make sure these populations are managed with predators like tarpon in mind, not just as isolated fisheries."

More information

Lucas P. Griffin et al, Discrete foraging landscapes support large scale migrations of a marine fish, Movement Ecology (2026). DOI: 10.1186/s40462-026-00677-3

Who's behind this story?

Gaby Clark

MA in English, copy editor since 2021 with experience in higher education and health content. Dedicated to trustworthy science news. Full profile →

Andrew Zinin

Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →

Citation: Hidden feeding grounds that fuel one of the ocean's most iconic sportfish identified (2026, July 15) retrieved 16 July 2026 from https://phys.org/news/2026-07-hidden-grounds-fuel-ocean-iconic.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.