Species
Oxeye Tarpon
Megalops cyprinoides
Also known as Indo-Pacific tarpon · oxeye herring · of which it is not a member
Tier 4Eating2/10light tackleQLDWANT
22 waypoints~30–60 cm typical
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Range & spots
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Overview: about oxeye tarpon
Tropical Indo-Pacific tarpon found across northern Australian rivers, estuaries and billabongs. Targeted with small soft plastics, surface lures and flies in still water and slow-moving creeks. Spectacular jumps and head-shakes — almost always released; flesh is bony and poor eating.
Biology: Oxeye Tarpon size, diet & habitat
- Habitat
- Estuary, Freshwater, River
- Typical size
- 30–60 cm (max 100 cm)
- Weight
- 0.5–3 kg (max 18 kg)
- Depth range
- 0–15 m
- Diet
- small fish, prawns, insects
- Most active
- crepuscular
- Global range
- Indo-Pacific tropics (Megalops cyprinoides — Oxeye tarpon, smaller than Atlantic tarpon)
How to target: Oxeye Tarpon angling strategies
Generally fished with light tackle — match gear to the conditions and the size of fish you expect.
- small soft plastics and stickbaits at dawn in tidal creek mouths
- fly with small baitfish patterns on intermediate lines
- topwater fizzers and poppers in shallow water
Best season: when to catch oxeye tarpon in Australia
No seasonal pattern for oxeye tarpon yet. Seasons shift with water temperature and local conditions — check state fisheries advice and recent local reports before planning a trip.
Where to catch: oxeye tarpon fishing spots in Australia
22 mapped fishing spots, marks and waypoints for oxeye tarpon across Australia, covering land-based fishing, rock fishing, beach fishing, surf fishing, estuary fishing and freshwater fishing. Each location below links through to access notes and coordinates.
Northern Territory19
- Adelaide River Upstream BarrageRiver · NT-12.95°
- Anbangbang Billabong (Kakadu)Lagoon · NT-12.87°
- Annaburroo BillabongLagoon · NT-12.88°
- Casuarina BeachBeach · NT-12.38°
- Corroboree BillabongLagoon · NT-12.78°
- Couzens Lookout (Mary River)River · NT-12.74°
- East Alligator RiverRiver · NT-12.42°
- Hardies LagoonLagoon · NT-12.85°
- Howard Springs Creek (Lower)River · NT-12.45°
- Jim Jim Creek (Kakadu)River · NT-12.92°
- Lee PointHeadland · NT-12.34°
- Magela Creek (Kakadu)River · NT-12.65°
- Mango Farm Reach (Daly River)River · NT-13.76°
- Rockhole (Mary River)River · NT-13.00°
- Stoneyard BillabongEstuary · NT-12.90°
- Vesteys BeachBeach · NT-12.45°
- Wildman River JunctionRiver Mouth · NT-12.65°
- WoolianaRiver · NT-13.70°
- Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba)Lagoon · NT-12.88°