Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 597 is my conversation with marine biologist Dr. Mike Larkin, who spent decades studying tarpon at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida. We dig into the biology every tarpon angler should know: why tarpon are obligate air breathers, how their modified swim bladder lets them survive in oxygen-poor water, what old catch records tell us about populations, and how migration and spawning research has reshaped what science understands about these fish.
Listen now: Apple Podcasts · Spotify · YouTube · press play in the player above to watch.
Dr. Mike Larkin is a marine biologist who specialized in tarpon research during his career at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida. His work focused on tarpon anatomy, physiology, behavior, and population dynamics, and he has published numerous scientific papers while collaborating with both researchers and anglers.
Tarpon must gulp air because they are obligate air breathers with a modified, highly vascularized swim bladder that functions like a lung and extracts oxygen directly from the atmosphere. This adaptation lets them survive in warm, oxygen-depleted water where other fish cannot, but it means they will die if they cannot reach the surface, even in well-oxygenated water.
Tarpon spawn offshore in deep ocean water. The exact locations and timing remain largely unknown because spawning happens in open-water environments that are very difficult to study. After spawning, tarpon larvae drift with currents through multiple developmental stages before recruiting to inshore nursery habitats.
Tarpon migrate along coastlines and can cover extensive distances, with some individuals traveling hundreds of miles. Satellite tagging research has shown their movements are more extensive than early studies suggested, with migration driven largely by water temperature and food availability.
Tarpon are culturally and economically significant, they occupy a unique ecological niche because of their air-breathing ability, and they face conservation pressure from habitat loss and fishing. Understanding their biology and life history informs management and conservation while improving angling and catch-and-release practices.
Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 597 with Dr. Mike Larkin is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and iHeartRadio. The video version is embedded at the top of this page.
I have spent thousands of hours chasing tarpon, and talking with someone who has dedicated his career to understanding their biology at this level is incredibly valuable to me. What I love about Dr. Larkin is how he bridges the gap between science and angling. He is not talking about abstract research; he is explaining how tarpon anatomy and behavior directly affect where they are, what they are doing, and how we should approach them. I wanted that knowledge on tape.
Press play in the YouTube player at the top of this page to hear the whole conversation in their own words.
Dr. Larkin explains that tarpon carry one of the most unique anatomical features in the fish world, a swim bladder that doubles as a respiratory organ. It is lined with tiny blood vessels that pull oxygen straight from the air, which lets tarpon thrive in warm, stagnant water other predators cannot use. He walks through how that single adaptation shapes where they feed and how they move. Worth hearing early in the episode.
Dr. Larkin gets into the history of tarpon fishing and what old records reveal about how populations have shifted over time. He talks through historical catch data, the rise of tarpon as a sport fish, and how comparing modern research to decades-old records exposes both the resilience and the vulnerability of these fish. Listen to that section in the middle of the conversation.
Listen to the full conversation: Apple Podcasts · Spotify · or watch in the YouTube player at the top of this page.
One of the most intriguing parts of this talk is the detective work behind tarpon spawning. Dr. Larkin describes offshore spawning, drifting larvae, and how little we still know about exact locations and timing. He is honest about the limits of studying fish that reproduce in the open ocean. Press play in the player above for the full breakdown.
Dr. Larkin lays out what scientists have learned about where tarpon go, when they move, and what drives those seasonal shifts. He explains how satellite tagging revealed that tarpon travel farther and linger longer than early studies assumed, and what that means for anglers timing the migration. Hear the science in the episode.
This is one of those conversations where I realized how much there is to learn about a fish I thought I knew well. The details about respiration, migration, and the open questions around spawning all added layers to how I think about tarpon.
What strikes me most is how Dr. Larkin makes complex biology directly useful. The more you understand about what makes tarpon unique, the better you can find them, present to them, and handle them responsibly.
Press play in the player above, or grab the full episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
The Tom Rowland Podcast brings you long-form conversations with the most accomplished anglers, hunters, conservationists, and outdoor professionals in the game. Listen to every full-length Tom Rowland Podcast interview.
Dr. Mike Larkin · Mote Marine Laboratory · Sarasota, Florida · Tom Rowland Podcast · tarpon research
Dr. Mike Larkin is a marine biologist who dedicated his career to studying tarpon and other marine species at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida. His research focused on tarpon anatomy, physiology, behavior, migration patterns, and population dynamics. He has published numerous scientific papers and collaborated extensively with both the scientific and angling communities, contributing foundational knowledge that informs conservation strategy and angling practice alike.
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