Michael Larkin, Ph.D.

Welcome back Mike! Michael Larkin, Ph.D will be joining us again in 2014 for the 3rd Annual Bonefish & Permit Tagging Challenge. Mike will give a presentation one night on the finding of Bonefish, Permit & Tarpon and also be available for any questions that you may have. Mike is a great guy and we, BRL, appreciates him visiting and helping out during the Challenge. Below is a little information on Michael Larkin, PhD.

Michael grew up in the Northeast U.S. where he spent most of his time fishing the docks, bridges, and beaches of Rhode Island. In an attempt to increase his fishing knowledge and catch rates he pursued a marine science degree at the University of Miami. During his freshman orientation he hooked his first tarpon in front of his dormitory, and immediately decided to make Florida his permanent residence. Four years and many tarpon jumps later, he received his Bachelor of Science degree and took a job with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in the Florida Keys. During this time he developed an obsession for bonefish. Once Michael caught wind that the University of Miami was starting bonefish research, he promptly applied and shortly thereafter was pursuing his doctorate. While in graduate school he worked on numerous projects with Miami’s Bonefish and Tarpon Conservation Program such as satellite tagging of tarpon and bonefish tagging, tracking, and age-and-growth. Highlights of his research include the discovery that bonefish in Florida migrate to the Bahamas, bonefish live to 21 years, and completion of the world’s first bonefish stock assessment. Michael’s research has been featured in numerous magazines and newspapers such as Fly Fishing in Saltwater Magazine, Saltwater Sportsman, Florida Sportsman, Redbone Journal, Miami Herald, and the New York Times. A video showing his bonefish tracking research can be found at video.

Dr. Larkin recently ventured into the world of outdoor writing. His write-up on tarpon biology can be found here.