One reason May marks the peak season for tarpon is because of the
palolo worm hatch.
the species description of the Pacific
palolo worm, Palola viridis (he
As regards the seasonal phenomena of the local Melanesian environment analysed herein, the present contribution offers new data relating to the ecology and ethnographic significance of a pan-Oceanic marine creature known as the
Palolo worm. This sea worm regularly appears once or twice within a given period of the lunar year and is therefore associated by many societies with other meteorological and celestial fluctuations.
One unique species taken was the
palolo worm Eunice viridis, a burrowing polychaete.
The mysterious Florida Keys
palolo worm hatch (palolo is derived from the Samoan name meaning green) is most curious and short-lived.
Another amazing fish congregation that is an absolute must to witness is the
palolo worm hatch.
Inshore, the tarpon are gathered in the largest numbers, patiently waiting for the
palolo worm hatch.
At the same time, there are also tarpon moving south--through the Florida Keys, where they'll gorge on an unusual, matchstick-size critter, the
palolo worm, which appears around the full and new moons of May.
"I've heard rumors for a while that there was a worm hatch here just like the Keys--a
palolo worm I think it's called.
In this five-story spread to celebrate summer, FS covered tarpon action all over Florida, including the game at the Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay, along the bridges in the Keys and the famed
palolo worm hatch, among other hotspots.--Ed.
Phylogeny and genetic diversity of
palolo worms (Palola, Eunicidae, Polychaeta) from the tropical North Pacific and the Caribbean.
Various species of annelids in the Class Polychaeta called
Palolo worms are found in scattered locations around the world, but most famous is Eunice viridis in the Samoan Islands.