Deploying a standardized assessment protocol for permit and tarpon

This interim report applies the Best Catch Assessment (BECAA) approach to reconstruct long-term trends in Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) across South Florida, U.S.A. Using structured local knowledge from 119 anglers and guides, representing 3,007 years of fishing experience, the assessment generates a 57-year trajectory of tarpon relative abundance, size structure, and angler effort. Results indicate that tarpon encounter rates increased through the late twentieth century, peaked in the mid to late 1990s, and have declined steadily since. Present-day encounter rates have returned to levels similar to the early stages of the time series, with approximately 10 eats and 5 hookups per standardised fishing day, compared with long-term means of ~17 eats and ~13 hookups. Reported maximum fish size also declined from a peak of approximately 168 lbs in the early 1990s to around 90 lbs in recent years. Regional trends varied across South Florida, indicating that tarpon population dynamics are spatially structured rather than uniform. Some regions showed earlier or stronger declines, while others showed relative stability or weaker signals of change. Angler effort also showed a delayed behavioural response: effort targeting tarpon increased during the early stages of declining encounter rates before shifting once availability had fallen further. These findings demonstrate the value of BECAA as a practical tool for generating quantitative indicators in data-limited recreational fisheries. The work also supports the development of a South Florida Best Catch Assessment ShinyApp as a stakeholder engagement and communication platform for tarpon and bonefish, with future expansion planned for permit.