Fish Species
Inshore
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BLUEFISH – POMATOMUS SAITATIJFamily Pomatomidae, BLUEFISHES
Color blue or greenish blue on back, sides silvery; mouth large; teeth prominent, sharp, and compressed; dorsal and anal fins nearly the same size; scales small; lateral line almost straight.
Similar fish: Blue Runner, C. Crysos.
Where found: Young usually INSHORE spring and summer, moving OFFSHORE to join adults fall and winter; strong migration of northeast Atlantic stock to Florida east coast in winter.
Size: Most west coast catches under 3 pounds, much larger on east coast.
Remarks: Travels in large schools, following schools of baitfish; cannibalistic; all members of a given school about the same size; spawning occurs OFFSHORE in spring and summer.
Florida record: 22 lbs., 3 ozs.
COBIA (LING) – RACHYCENTRON CANADUM
Family Rachycentridae, COBIA
Long, slim fish with broad depressed head; lower jaw projects past upper jaw; dark lateral stripe extends through eye to tail; fffst dorsal fin comprised of 7 to 9 free spines; when young, has conspicuous alternating black and white horizontal stripes.
Similar fish: Remora, Eceneis naucrates.
Where found: Both INSHORE and NEARSHORE inhabitating inlets, bays, and among mangroves; frequently seen around buoys, pilings, and wrecks.
Size: Common to 30 pounds.
Remarks: Spawns in spring and early summer; feeds on crabs, squid, and small fish.
Florida record: 130 lbs., 1 oz
FLOUNDER – PARALICHTHYS ALBIGUTTA
Family Bothidae, LEFTEYE FLOUNDERS
Body color brown, its shade depending on color of bottom, with numerous spots and blotches; 3 prominent eye-like spots forming a triangle; one spot on lateral line, one above, one below; numerous white spots scattered over body and fins (albigutta, white spotted); strong canine-like teeth; caudal fin in shape of wedge, its tip in the middle
Similar fish: Southern flounder, P lethostigma (no eye-like spots; color pattern is key to distinguishing the two species).
Where found: INSHORE on sandy or mud bottoms, often ranging into tidal creeks; occasionally caught on NEARSHORE rocky reefs.
Size: Common to 2 pounds, generally smaller than southern flounder.
Remarks: Hatches into usual fish form, but right eye migrates overt to left side early in life; a bottom dweller; thought to spawn offshore; feeds on crustaceans and small fishes.
Florida record: Southern Flounder – 22 lbs., 7 oz.
KING MACKEREL – SCOMBRIDAEFamily MACKERELS AND TUNAS
Color of back iridescent bluish green, sides silvery; streamlined body with tapered head; no black pigment on front of the first dorsal fin; lateral line starts high and drops sharply below the second dorsal fin; young fish often have yellowish spots like those of Spanish mackerel.
Similar fish: Cero, S. regalis; Spanish mackerel, œ maculatus.
Where found: NEARSHORE and OFFSHORE; occasionally taken from piers running into deep water.
Size: Common to 20 pounds.
Remarks: Schooling fish that migrates from south Florida waters in winter to more northerly waters in spring; Gulf population thought to be separate from Atlantic population, with considerable mixing in winter from Cape Canaveral past Key West; spawns in mid summer OFFSHORE; feeds on small fish and squid.
Florida record: 90 lbs
POMPANO – TRACHINOTUS CAROLINUS
Family Carangidae, JACKS AND POMPANOS
Greenish gray on back, shading to silvery sides; fish in dark waters showing yellow on throat, pelvic, and anal fins; deep flattened body with small mouth; no scutes; 22 to 27 soft dorsal rays; 20 to 23 soft anal rays; origin of anal fin slightly behind origin of second dorsal.
Similar fish: Permit, T falcatus; palometa, T goodei; the permit is deeper bodied; dorsal body profile not strongly angled at insertion of second dorsal fin; pompano rarely grow larger than 6 pounds, permit common to 40 pounds.
Where found: INSHORE and NEARSHORE waters, especially along sandy beaches, along oyster A bars, and over grassbeds, often in turbid water; may be found in water as deep as 130 feet.
Size: Usually less than 3 pounds
Remarks: Spawns OFFSHORE between March and September; feeds on mollusks and crustaceans, especially sand fleas; local movements are influenced by the tide, and seasonal movements are influenced by temperature.
Florida record: 8 lbs., 1 oz.
RED DRUM (RED-FISH) – SCIAENOPS OCELIATUS
Family Sciaenidae, DRUMS Other local names: redfish
Chin without barbels; copper-bronze body, lighter shade in clear waters; one to many spots at base of tail (rarely no spots); mouth horizontal and opening downward; scales large.
Similar fish: Black drum, Pogonias cromis.
Where found: Juveniles are an INSHORE fish, migrating out of the estuaries at about 30 inches (4 years) and joining the spawning population OFFSHORE.
Size: Common to 20 pounds.
Remarks: Red drum are an INSHORE species until they attain roughly 30 inches (4 years), then migrate to join the NEARSHORE population; spawning occurs from August to November in NEARSHORE waters; feeds on crustaceans, fish, and mollusks; longevity to 20 years or more.
Florida record: 52 lbs., 5 ozs.
SHEEPSHEAD – ARCHOSARGUS PROBATOCEPHALUS
Family Sparidae, PORGIES
Basic silvery color, with 5 or 6 distinct vertical black bars on sides, not always the same on both sides; prominent teeth, including incisors, molars, and rounded grinders; no barbels on lower jaw; strong and sharp spines on dorsal and anal fins.
Similar fish: Black drum, Pogonias cromis; Atlantic spadefish, Chaetodipterus faber (black drum have barbels on lower jaw, sheepshead do not; vertical barring on sides of black drum and spadefish disappear as fish mature; spadefish have small, brush-like teeth).
Where found: INSHORE around oyster bars, seawalls and in tidal creeks; moves NEARSHORE in late winter and early spring for spawning, gathering over rocks, artificial reefs, and around navigation markers.
Size: INSHORE, 1 to 2 pounds; OFFSHORE, common to 8 pounds.
Remarks: Feeds on mollusks and crustaceans such as fiddler crabs and barnacles; famed nibblers, prompting the saying that “anglers must strike just before they bite.”
Florida record: 15 lbs., 2 ozs.
SPANISH MACKEREL – SCOMBEROMORUS MACULATUS
Family Scombridae, MACKERELS AND TUNAS
Color of back green, shading to silver on sides, golden yellow irregular spots above and below lateral line; front of dorsal fin black; lateral line curves gently to base of tail.
Similar fish: Cero, S. regalis; king mackerel, cavalla.
Where found: INSHORE, NEARSHORE, and OFFSHORE, especially over deep grass beds and reefs; absent from north Florida waters in winter.
Size: Average catch less than 2 pounds (20 inches).
Remarks: Schooling fish that migrates northward in spring, returning to southerly waters when water temperatures drop below about 70 degrees F; spawns OFFSHORE, spring through summer; feeds on small fish and squid.
Florida record: 12 lbs.
SPOTTED SEA TROUT – CYNOSCION NEBULOSUS
Family Sciaenidae, DRUMS
Dark gray or green above, with sky-blue tinges shading to silvery and white below; numerous distinct round black spots on back, extending to the dorsal fins and tail; no barbels; no scales on the soft dorsal fin; one or two prominent canine teeth usually present at tip of upper jaw.
Similar fish: Other seatrout
Where found: INSHORE andlor NEARSHORE over grass, sand, and sandy mud bottoms; move into slow-moving or still, deep waters in cold weather.
Size: Common to 4 pounds on west coast, larger on east coast.
Remarks: Matures during first or second year and spawns INSHORE from March through November, often in associafion with seagrass beds; lives mainly in estuaries and moves only short distances; adults feed mainly on shrimp and small fish; prefers water temperatures between 58 and 81 degrees F, may be killed if trapped in shallow water during cold weather; longevity 8 to 10 years.
Florida record: 17 lbs. 7 oz.
TUNA – THUNNUS ALBACARES
Family Scombridae, MACKERELS AND TUNAS
Pectoral fin moderately long, reaching point below begginging of 2nd dorsal fin; 2nd dorsal fin and all finlets yellow; no white rear edge on caudal fin; golden stripe on side; 2nd dorsal and anal fins become much larger with age (to about 1/5 of total length); eye small; 26 to 35 gill rakers.
Similar fish: N/A
Where found: Offshore mostly bluewater; in or near the Gulfstream.
Size: Common to 2.1 m (82 in.) and 176 kg (367 lbs.).
Remarks: An important game fish, reowned for its tremendous runs and shifts of direction; usually not in schools; caught by trolling bait and artificial lures on flatlines.
Florida record: N/A
WEAKFISH – CYIIOSCIOII REGALIS
Family Sciaenidae, DRUMS
Dark olive or blue-green back; sides covered in tones of blue, purple, lavender, gold, and copper; irregular diagonal rows of vaguely- defined dark spots appear above the lateral line; 1 to 2 prominent canine teeth usually present at tip of upper jaw; black margin on tip of the tongue; pelvic and anal fins yellow; pectoral fins olive on outside, yellow underneath; mouth yellow inside.
Similar fish: Other seatrouts
Where found: An Atlantic coast fish, possibly found in the extreme southeastern Gulf; adults move INSHORE and north during warm months inhabiting the surf, inlets, bays, channels, and estuaries; adults move OFFSHORE and south during cold months; juveniles inhabit estuaries which serve as nurseries.
Size: 2 to 3 pounds.
Remarks: May mature as early as age 1; spawns in NEARSHORE or estuarine areas between April and October; schooling fish; feeds primarily on shrimp and fish.
Florida record: 10 lbs.
Offshore
AMBERJACK – SERIOLA DUMERILI
Family Carangidae, JACKS AND POMPANOS
Dark stripe (variably present) extends from nose to front of dorsal fin and “lights up” when fish is in feeding mode; no scutes; soft dorsal base less than twice the length of the anal fin base.
Similar fish: Other Seriola
Where found: OFFSHORE species associated with rocky reefs, debris, and wrecks, typacally in 60-240 feet of water; sometimes caught NEARSHORE in south Florida; juveniles associate with floating objects and may occur in water less than 30 feet deep.
Size: Common to 40 pounds.
Remarks: Largest of the jacks; thought to spawn OFFSHORE throughout much of the year; Feeds on squid, fish, and crustaceans.
Florida record: 142 lbs.
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BLACK GROUPER – SERRANIDAE
Family SEA BASSES and GROUPER
Olive or gray body coloration with balck blotches and brassy spots; gentle rounded preopercie; Similar fish: Gag, M. Microlepis, Yellow Fin Grouper, M. Venenosa.
Similar fish: N/A
Where found: OFFSHORE species;adults associated with rocky bottoms, reefs, and dropoff walls in water over 60 feet deep; young may occur INSHORE in shallow water
Size: Common to 40 pounds, may attain weights exceeding 100 pounds; no Florida record because of identity confusion with Gag, which are mistakenly called “black grouper.”
Remarks: Spawns between May and August; Protogynous Hermaphrodites, young predominately female, transforming into males as they grow larger, larger individuals generally in greater depths, feeds on fish and squid.
Florida record: N/A
BLUE MARLIN – ISTIOPHORIDAE
Family BILL FISHES
Color cobalt blue on top shading to silvery white on bottom; upper jaw elongated in form of spear; dorsal fin pointed at front end; pectoral fin and anal fin pointed; lateral line reticulated (interwoven like a net), difficult to see in large specimens; no dark spots on dorsal fin; body covered with imbedded scales ending in one or two sharp points.
Similar fish: White Marlin, T Albidus (white has rounded dorsal at front end, rounded tip of pectoral and anal fins, and spots on the dorsal fin).
Where found: OFFSHORE, a bluewater fish.
Size: Largest of the Atlantic Marlins, common to 11 feet.
Remarks: All of the trophy sixe are females; males do not exceed 300 pounds; make trans-Atalantic migrations; spawning procedures unknown; feeds on squid and pelagic fishes, including blackfin tuna and frigate mackerel
Florida record: 1046 lbs.
BLUEFISH – POMATOMUS SAITATIJFamily Pomatomidae, BLUEFISHES
Color blue or greenish blue on back, sides silvery; mouth large; teeth prominent, sharp, and compressed; dorsal and anal fins nearly the same size; scales small; lateral line almost straight.
Similar fish: Blue Runner, C. Crysos.
Where found: Young usually INSHORE spring and summer, moving OFFSHORE to join adults fall and winter; strong migration of northeast Atlantic stock to Florida east coast in winter.
Size: Most west coast catches under 3 pounds, much larger on east coast.
Remarks: Travels in large schools, following schools of baitfish; cannibalistic; all members of a given school about the same size; spawning occurs OFFSHORE in spring and summer.
Florida record: 22 lbs., 3 ozs.
LITTLE TUNNY – EUTHYNNUS ALLETTERATUSFamily Scombridae, MACKERELS AND TUNAS
Diagonal, sometime wavy, dark bars on bare areas on each side of back; 4 to 5 dark spots below pectoral fin; no dark stripes on belly; dorsal fins connected at base; pectoral fin short.
Similar fish: N/A
Where found: Common offshore, but also occurs regularly in bays and over reefs.
Size: Common from a few pounds up to 15 pounds.
Remarks: Probably the most common tuna W. Atlantic; Popular sportfish, also used as bait for marlin; occurs in large schools.
Florida record: 27 lbs.
DOLPHIN – CORYPHAENA HIPPURUS
Family Coryphaenidae, DOLPHINS
Bright greenish blue above, yellow on sides, with capability of flashing purple, chartreuse, and a wide range of other colors; body tapers sharply from head to tail; irregular blue or golden blotches scattered over sides; anterior profile of head on adult males is nearly vertical; head of females more sloping; the single dark dorsal fin extends from just behind the head to the tail; anal fin margin concave and extending to tail. Similar fish: pompano dolphin, C. equisetis; the pompano dolphin has squarish tooth patch on tongue (oval tooth patch on dolphin) and fewer dorsal rays (48 to 55 vs. 55 to 65 on dolphin).
Similar fish: N/A
Where found: OFFSHORE in warm waters.
Size: Common to 30 pounds.
Remarks: One of the fastest-growing fish, thought to live no more than 5 years; swimming speed estimated at 50 knots; spawns in warm oceanic currents throughout much of the year; young found in sargassum weed; feeds on flying fish and squid.
Florida record: 77 lbs., 12 ozs.
KING MACKEREL – SCOMBRIDAEFamily MACKERELS AND TUNAS
Color of back iridescent bluish green, sides silvery; streamlined body with tapered head; no black pigment on front of the first dorsal fin; lateral line starts high and drops sharply below the second dorsal fin; young fish often have yellowish spots like those of Spanish mackerel.
Similar fish: Cero, S. regalis; Spanish mackerel, œ maculatus.
Where found: NEARSHORE and OFFSHORE; occasionally taken from piers running into deep water.
Size: Common to 20 pounds.
Remarks: Schooling fish that migrates from south Florida waters in winter to more northerly waters in spring; Gulf population thought to be separate from Atlantic population, with considerable mixing in winter from Cape Canaveral past Key West; spawns in mid summer OFFSHORE; feeds on small fish and squid.
Florida record: 90 lbs
RED DRUM (RED-FISH) – SCIAENOPS OCELIATUS
Family Sciaenidae, DRUMS Other local names: redfish
Chin without barbels; copper-bronze body, lighter shade in clear waters; one to many spots at base of tail (rarely no spots); mouth horizontal and opening downward; scales large.
Similar fish: Black drum, Pogonias cromis.
Where found: Juveniles are an INSHORE fish, migrating out of the estuaries at about 30 inches (4 years) and joining the spawning population OFFSHORE.
Size: Common to 20 pounds.
Remarks: Red drum are an INSHORE species until they attain roughly 30 inches (4 years), then migrate to join the NEARSHORE population; spawning occurs from August to November in NEARSHORE waters; feeds on crustaceans, fish, and mollusks; longevity to 20 years or more.
Florida record: 52 lbs., 5 ozs.
RED SNAPPER – LUTJAIIUS CAINPECHAIZUS
Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS
Color pinkish red over entire body, whitish below; long triangular snout; anal fin sharply pointed; no dark lateral spot; red eye.
Similar fish: Silk snapper, L. vivanus.
Where found:OFFSHORE on the continental shelf, more plentilul off the Panhandle than in south or middle Florida.
Size: Common to 20 pounds.
Remarks: Juveniles occur over sandy or mud bottoms and are often taken in shrimp trawls; adults may live more than 20 years, and attain 35 pounds or more; sexual maturity attained at age 2; spawns June to October; feeds on crustaceans and fish.
Florida record: 46 lbs., 8 ozs.
SAILFISH – ISTIOPHORUSFamily Istiophoridae, BILLFISHES
Color dark blue on top, brown-blue laterally, silvery white underbelly; upper jaw elongated in form of spear; first dorsal greatly enlarged in the form of a sail, with many black spots, its front squared off, highest at its mid point; pelvic fins very narrow, reaching almost to the anus; body covered with imbedded scales, blunt at end; lateral line curved over pectoral, then straight to base of tail.
Similar fish: White marlin, T. albidus, young blue marlin, M. nigricans (spectacular sail-like dorsal of sailfish is most notable difference).
Where found: OFFSHORE species, in south Florida associated with waters near the Gulfstream; off the Panhandle near the 100 fathom line.
Size: Common to 7 feet.
Remarks: Rapid growing species, reaching 4 to 5 feet in a single year; swims at speeds up to 50 knots; feeds on the surface or at mid depths on smaller pelagic fishes and squid.
Florida record: 116 lbs.
SPANISH MACKEREL – SCOMBEROMORUS MACULATUS
Family Scombridae, MACKERELS AND TUNAS
Color of back green, shading to silver on sides, golden yellow irregular spots above and below lateral line; front of dorsal fin black; lateral line curves gently to base of tail.
Similar fish: Cero, S. regalis; king mackerel, cavalla.
Where found: INSHORE, NEARSHORE, and OFFSHORE, especially over deep grass beds and reefs; absent from north Florida waters in winter.
Size: Average catch less than 2 pounds (20 inches).
Remarks: Schooling fish that migrates northward in spring, returning to southerly waters when water temperatures drop below about 70 degrees F; spawns OFFSHORE, spring through summer; feeds on small fish and squid.
Florida record: 12 lbs.
TARPON – MEGALOPS ATLAUTICUS
Family Elopidae, TARPONS
Last ray of dorsal fin extended into long filament; one dorsal fin; back dark blue to green or greenish black, shading into bright silver on the sides; may be brownish gold in estuarine waters; huge scales; mouth large and points upward. Similar species: (as juveniles) ladyfish, Elops saurus.
Similar fish: Primarily INSHORE fish, although adult fish spawn OFFSHORE where the ribbon-like larval stage of the fish can be found.
Where found: N/A
Size: Most angler catches 40 to 150 pounds.
Remarks: Slow grower, matures at 7 to 13 years of age; spawning occurs between May and September; female may lay more than 12 million eggs; can tolerate wide range of salinity; juveniles commonly found in fresh water; can breathe air at the surface; feeds mainly on fish and large crustaceans.
Florida record: 243 lbs.
TUNA – THUNNUS ALBACARES
Family Scombridae, MACKERELS AND TUNAS
Pectoral fin moderately long, reaching point below begginging of 2nd dorsal fin; 2nd dorsal fin and all finlets yellow; no white rear edge on caudal fin; golden stripe on side; 2nd dorsal and anal fins become much larger with age (to about 1/5 of total length); eye small; 26 to 35 gill rakers.
Similar fish: N/A
Where found: Offshore mostly bluewater; in or near the Gulfstream.
Size: Common to 2.1 m (82 in.) and 176 kg (367 lbs.).
Remarks: An important game fish, reowned for its tremendous runs and shifts of direction; usually not in schools; caught by trolling bait and artificial lures on flatlines.
Florida record: N/A
VERMILION SNAPPER – RHOMBOPLITES AURORUBEUS
Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS
Color of entire body reddish, with a series of short, irregular lines on its sides, diagonal blue lines formed by spots on the scales above the lateral line; sometimes with yellow streaks below the lateral line; large canine teeth absent; orientation of mouth and eye give it the appearance of looking upward; no dark lateral spot.
Similar fish: N/A
Where found: Suspends at mid-depths over rocky reefs OFFSHORE.
Size: Usually less than 2 pounds.
Remarks: Spawns April to September, females maturing at 3 to 4 years of age; grows slowly; attains a weight of 6 pounds and length of 24 inches; feeds on small, swimming crustaceans and mollusks.
Florida record: N/A
WAHOO – ACAUTHOCYBIUM SOLANDERIFamily Scombridae, MACKERELS AND TUNAS
Body slender; elongate jaws form a pointed beak; dark bluish above, with about 30 dark wavy bars; whitish below 1st dorsal fin long and low, with 21 to 27 spines; no gill rakers
Similar fish: N/A
Where found: Offshore Gulfstream; bluewater .
Size: To 2.1 m (83 in.) and 83 kg (183 lbs.).
Remarks: N/A
Florida record: 136 lbs.
WEAKFISH – CYIIOSCIOII REGALIS
Family Sciaenidae, DRUMS
Dark olive or blue-green back; sides covered in tones of blue, purple, lavender, gold, and copper; irregular diagonal rows of vaguely- defined dark spots appear above the lateral line; 1 to 2 prominent canine teeth usually present at tip of upper jaw; black margin on tip of the tongue; pelvic and anal fins yellow; pectoral fins olive on outside, yellow underneath; mouth yellow inside.
Similar fish: Other seatrouts
Where found: An Atlantic coast fish, possibly found in the extreme southeastern Gulf; adults move INSHORE and north during warm months inhabiting the surf, inlets, bays, channels, and estuaries; adults move OFFSHORE and south during cold months; juveniles inhabit estuaries which serve as nurseries.
Size: 2 to 3 pounds.
Remarks: May mature as early as age 1; spawns in NEARSHORE or estuarine areas between April and October; schooling fish; feeds primarily on shrimp and fish.
Florida record: 10 lbs.
