Although this is considered an important game fish, the flesh is not highly prized in the United States, though the natives of Panama, the West Indies, and Africa consider the tarpon a delicacy and sell it on a small scale.

Can tarpon bite you?

It's relatively safe to feed tarpon by hand because unlike many large fish, Tarpon don't have sharp teeth. Rather, their mouths are the consistency of sandpaper. Their bite hurts a bit – I got a good scrape from one massive “hit” which bled a little – but it didn't stop me going back for more.

Are Tarpons edible?

Are Tarpon Fish Good to Eat? Tarpon are rarely eaten because their flesh is filled with small, hard to clean bones. In the United States, the tarpon usually is caught for sport — and then released. As a bony, strong-smelling saltwater fish, it may be more trouble than pleasure to eat.