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Know Your Fish
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African Pompano
Body is deep and compressed. Coloration is metalic -blue above, silvery below.
Snout is blunt. Pelvic fins are longer than the maxilla. Second dorsal and anal fins are falcate.
Size: to 91cm (3 ft.) and 19 kg (42 lbs) Normally found: Young are found in
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Almaco Jack
deep-bodied amberjack; sometimes darker in coloration; front of soft dorsal and of anal fins high and elongated; body more flattened than banded rudderfish or greater amberjack; no scutes.
Similar fish: other Seriola.
Normally found: wide-ranging in
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American Shad
color of back green or greenish blue with metallic lustre; silvery sides, white underneath (colors darken when fish enters fresh water to spawn); belly with scutes forming distinct keel; one or more dark spots in a row behind operculum; lower jaw with
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Atlantic Bumper
silvery to golden below; anal and caudal fins yellowish; conspicuous black saddle on caudal peduncle and small black area at edge of opercle; lower profile more arched than upper profile; lateral line strongly arched toward front.
Size: to 30 cm (1
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Atlantic Croaker
inferior mouth; 3 to 5 pairs of small barbels on chin; silver-gray or bronze body with dark oblique wavy bars or lines; iridescent especially on head; preopercle strongly serrated.
Similar fish: spot, Leiostomus xanthurus (has no chin barbels and has a
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Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
long and flattened snout; white trailing edge of pectoral; black-edged dorsal and caudal fins, especially when young; may have small whitish spots onsides; furrows in lips at the corners of the mouth; outer margin of teeth notched; second dorsal fin
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Atlantic Spadefish
silvery with 4 to 6 black vertical bands on each side which sometimes become obscure in larger fish; deep, flattened body; separated first and second dorsal fins; concave caudal fin; anterior rays of second dorsal fin and anal fin elongated. Similar
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Atlantic Thread Herring
names: gizzard shad
Description: back dark blue/gray, sides silvery, belly white; small head
Normally found: in salt water from Cape Cod to Brazil, including Gulf of Mexico
Size: up to 16"
Remarks: has scales on ridge of back before dorsal fin.
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Ballyhoo
tip of lower jaw and upper lobe of caudal fin orange-red; pectoral fin short; tip of pelvic fin extends past beginning of dorsal fin; dorsal and anal fins unscaled.
Normally found: young are pelagic; adults abundant in bays and nearshore waters, near
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Banded Rudderfish
fish less than 11 inches long have dark band from eye to first dorsal fin and six prominent bars on body; larger fish are bluish, greenish, or brown; soft dorsal base about twice the length of the anal fin; tail-lobe white tipped.
Similar fish: other
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Bay Anchovy
body relatively deep; head short; snout very short, only slightly overhanging mouth; silvery stripe narrow, often faint or absent toward front; stripe fades after death; body grayish, with few melanophores above; dorsal fin far back – the only U.S.
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Bigeye Scad
eye very large – diameter greater than snout length; no detached dorsal and anal finlets; two widely separated fleshly tabs on inside of rear edge of gill chamber; scutes present only on rear part of lateral line.
Size: to 60 cm (2 ft.)., but usually
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Black Drum
high arched back; 10 to 14 pairs of chin barbels; gray or black colored body in adults; young have 4 to 6 vertical bars; has cobblestonelike teeth capable of crushing oysters; scales large.
Similar fish: red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus; the vertical bars
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Black Grouper
olive or gray body coloration with black blotches and brassy spots; gently rounded preopercle; (see gag, next page)
Similar fish: gag, M. microlepis; yellowfin grouper, M. venenosa.
Normally found: OFFSHORE species; adults associated with rocky
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Black Sea Bass
basic color dark brown or black; dorsal fin has rows and stripes of white on black; large males have iridescent blue and ebony markings, and fatty hump in front of dorsal fin; females may have indistinct vertical barrings; topmost ray of caudal fin much
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Blackfin Snapper
color generally red, with yellowish caudal, anal, and pelvic fins; distinctive and prominent dark comma-shaped blotch at the base of the pectoral fins, which gives the fish its common name; anal fin rounded; no black spot on side underneath dorsal
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Blackfin Tuna
pectoral fin moderately long, reaching point below beginning of 2nd dorsal fin; 2nd dorsal fin dusky; all finlets dusky, with white edges; dorsal finlets sometimes turn yellowish at base after death; a broad, brownish stripe along upper part fo side; eye
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Blacknose Shark
distinctive dusky smudge at snout tip (more prominent in young); no dark tips on fins; pale olive-gray above, whitish below; 1st dorsal fin begins above rear corner of pectoral fin; no mid dorsal ridge; upper teeth very asymmetrical, those toward front
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Blacktip Shark
dark bluish gray (young paler) above, whitish below; distinctive whitish stripe on flank; inside tip of pectoral fin conspicuously black; dorsal fin, anal fin, and lower lobe of caudal fin also black-tipped in young, fading with growth; 1st dorsal fin
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Blue Marlin - Makaira Nigricans
color cobalt blue on top shading to silvery white on bottom; upper jaw elongated in form of a 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
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Blue Runner
color light olive to bluish green above, silvery gray to golden below; frequently black spot on operculum; readily distinguished from crevalle jack by lack of a dark blotch on the pectoral fin; tail tips blackish.
Similar fish: bluefish, Pomatomus
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Bluefish
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.
Normally found: young
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Bonefish
silvery color with bluish or greenish back; slender, round body; snout long, conical, aiming downward and overhanging lower jaw; dark streaks between scales on upper half of body and faint crossbands extending down to lateral line; extremities of dorsal
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Bonnethead Shark
broadly widened head in the shape of a shovel; only slight indentation of anal fin; front of head not notched at midline; gray or grayish-brown in color.
Similar fish: other hammerhead sharks.
Normally found: INSHORE species found in bays and
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Cero (cero Mackerel)
color of back iridescent bluish green; sides silvery; yellow spots forming lines above and below a bronze stripe from pectoral fin to base of the tail; front of first dorsal is bluish black; lateral line curves gradually to base of caudal fin.
Similar
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Cobia (ling)
long, slim fish with broad depressed head; lower jaw projects past upper jaw; dark lateral stripe extends through eye to tail; first dorsal fin comprised of 7 to 9 free spines; when young, has conspicuous alternating black and white horizontal
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Common Snook
distinct black lateral line; high, divided dorsal fin; sloping forehead; large mouth, protruding lower jaw; grows much larger than other snooks; pelvic fin yellow.
Similar fish: other Centropomus.
Normally found: from central Florida south, usually
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Crevalle Jack
color bluish-green to greenish-gold back and silvery or yellowish belly; soft dorsal and anal fins almost identical in size; prominent black spot on operculum (gill cover); black spot at the base of each pectoral fin; no scales on throat.
Similar fish:
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Cubera Snapper
color dark brown or gray, may have a reddish tinge; broad-based triangular tooth patch on roof of mouth without a posterior extension; despite its specific name, which translates to “blue-fin,” the fins have only a slight tinge of blue; canine teeth in
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Dog Snapper
color brown with a bronze tinge, lighter on sides; canine teeth very sharp, one pair notably enlarged, visible even when mouth is closed; in adults, pale triangle and a light blue interrupted line below the eye; no dark spot on body underneath dorsal
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Dolphin
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
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Fantail Mullet
color olive green with blue tints on back, shading to silvery sides, white below; anal and pelvic fins yellowish; dark blotch at base of pectoral fin; inverted V-shaped mouth; insertion of second dorsal over that of the anal fin.
Similar fish: striped
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Fat Snook
deeper body than other snooks; yellow-brown to greenbrown above silvery on sides; black lateral line extends onto tail; mouth reaches to or beyond center of eyes; usually no dusky outer edge of all snook.
Similar fish: other Centropomus.
Normally
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Florida Pompano
greenish gray on back, shading to silvery sides; fish indark 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
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Gafftopsail Catfish
bluish above; silvery below; dorsal and pectoral fins with long, fleshy filaments on spines; barbel at cornor of mouth flattened, bandlike, and very elongate, sometimes reaching anal fin; only 2 barbels on chin.
Size: to 60 cm (2 ft.) and 2.5 kg (5 to 6
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Gag Grouper
brownish gray in color with dark worm-like markings on sides; strong serrated spur at bottom margin of preopercle, less noticeable in large specimens; fins dark, with anal and caudal having white margin; often confused with black grouper; most noticeable
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Grass Porgy
pale tan to silvery; dark olive above; dark bar across nape extends through eye to corner of mouth; dark blotches on body, in about 5 vertical and 4 horizontal series, suggesting interrupted bars and stripes; blotch near front of lateral line most
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Gray Snapper (mangrove Snapper)
color dark brown or gray with reddish or orange spots in rows along the sides; dark horizontal band from snout through eye (young only); two conspicuous canine teeth at front of upper jaw; dorsal fins have dark or reddish borders; no spot on side
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Gray Triggerfish
entirely olive-gray; dorsal and anal fins marbled; caudal fin lobes elongate in large adults; one or more enlarged scales behind gill opening; 26 to 29 dorsal fin rays; 23 to 26 anal fin rays.
Young: large darker saddles on back (these saddles sometimes
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Great Barracuda
gray, with a greenish cast above, whitish below; many irregular, small black blotches on lower side; 18 to 22 diagonal dark bars on upper side (not always evident); caudal fin dark with white tips; 75 to 87 lateral line scales; no fleshy tip on jaw.
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Greater Amberjack
dark stripe (variably present) extends from nose to in 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.
Normally found: OFFSHORE
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Gulf Flounder
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
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Gulf Kingfish
similar to the Southern Kingfish but caudal fin has a blackish tip; side silvery, without dark marks; tip of spinous dorsal fin often dusky; lining of gill cavity silvery; scales on chest noticeably smaller than those on side.
Size: to 46 cm (18
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Gulf Menhaden
names: shad, pogies
Description: to 18" oval, deep and compressed; blue or green, sometimes bluish-brown above; sides and belly silvery, fins yellowish; distinct humeral spot often followed by several rows of smaller spots; head very large, exposed
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Hardhead Catfish
brownish to gray-green; white to yellowish below; fin spines with no fleshy filaments; barbel at corner of mouth not very flattened and shorter than head; four barbels on chin.
Size: to 60 cm (2 ft.) and 5.5 kg (12 lbs.) but usually much
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Hogfish
body deep, strongly compressed; color varies, but never bicolored; usually reddish, sometimes bright brick red; soft dorsal fin with a large dark spot at base; entire top of head nape purplish brown in large males; this patch of color continuous with
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Horse-eye Jack
similar in shape to the Crevalle jack, but front of head less steep; blackish blotch at edge of opercle small, poorly defined, or absent; no dark blotch on pectoral fin; entire chest scaly except in individuals less than 75 mm (3 in.) long; scutes
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Jewfish/goliath
head and fins covered with small black spots; irregular dark vertical bars present on the sides of body; pectoral and caudal fin rounded; first dorsal fin shorter than and not separated from second dorsal; adults huge, up to 800 pounds; eyes
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Jolthead Porgy
generally silvery to brassy, with a bluish cast; front of head brown, with blue line along lower rim of eye; a whitish stripe below eye, and another between eye and mouth; corner of mouth orange.
Size: to 60 cm (2 ft.) and 3.6 kg (8 lbs.).
Normally
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King Mackerel
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
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Knobbed Porgy
body deep; front profile very steep; nape projects strongly in large adults; body generally silvery, with a rosy cast;
cheek and snout dark purplish gray, with many bronze spots; large blue spot at axil of pectoral fin.
Size: to 46 cm (18
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Ladyfish
terminal mouth; slender body; small scales; last dorsal ray not elonged; head small and pointed.
Similar fish: juvenile tarpon, Megalops atlanticus.
Normally found: INSHORE fish, in bays and estuaries; occasionally enters freshwater, occurring in tidal
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Lane Snapper
color silvery-pink to reddish with short, irregular pink and yellow lines on its sides; diffuse black spot, about as large as the eye; the dorsal fin centered above the lateral line; outer margin of caudal fin blackish.
Similar fish: mutton snapper, L.
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Leatherjacket
body silvery, bluish above; fins yellow; rear parts of dorsal and anal fins consist of a series of finlets; spinous dorsal fin has 5 well-developed, unconnected spines; lateral line nearly straight; scales tiny, embedded; skin appears smooth.
Size: to
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Lesser Amberjack
olive green or brownish back and silver sides; dark band (variably present) extends backward and upward from eye; juveniles have split or wavy bars on sides; proportionately larger eye and deeper body than greater amberjack.
Similar fish: other
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Little Tunny
diagonal, sometimes 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.
Size: to 1 m (3.25 ft.) and 12 kg (26 lbs.), but usually much
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Littlehead Porgy
similar to the knobbed porgy, but snout and cheek bluish gray, with many wavy, dark blue lines; areas between lines sometimes brassy; each scale on upper body has a dark bluish line through the center; these lines unite to form a narrow line along each
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Longbill Spearfish
color of body dark blue, shading to silvery, white underneath; dorsal fin bluish, others brown-black; two dorsal fins, the first lengthy, its front forming a peak; two anal fins, the anus well in front of the first; upper jaw prolonged into spear, its
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Lookdown
silvery, iridescent, sometimes with brassy highlights; body extremely compressed and deep, platelike; front of head very steep; lobes at front of soft dorsal and anal fins very long; pelvic fins small; lateral line arched toward front.
Young: spines at
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Mahogany Snapper
color grayish-olive with a reddish tinge; conspicuous dark spot, about the size of the eye, below the soft dorsal fin, 1/4 to 1/2 of it below the lateral line; the large eye and caudal fin are bright red; lower margin of the preopercle has prominent spur
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Mutton Snapper
color olive green on back and upper sides, all fins below the lateral line having reddish tinge; bright blue line below eye,
following contour of operculum; anal fin pointed; small black spot below dorsal fin; V-shaped tooth patch on roof of
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Nassau Grouper
color light background with brown or red-brown bars on sides; stripe in shape of tuning fork on forehead; third spine of dorsal longer than second; pelvic fins shorter than pectorals; lack dots around the eyes; large black saddle on caudal
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Palometa
gray to blue-green on top of head and along the back; bright silvery sides; yellow on breast; elongated dorsal and anal fins, dusky or black with bluish edges; deep body, with four narrow bars high on the sides, and traces of a fifth nearer the tail; no
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Permit
color gray, dark or iridescent blue above,shading to silvery sides, in dark waters showing golden tints around breast; small permit have teeth ontongue (none on pompano); no scutes; dorsal fininsertion directly above that of the anal fin; 17 to 21soft
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Pigfish
gray, often with a bluish cast; many bronze to yellowish spots, dashes, and other small markings; mouth small, ending below front nostril.
Size: to 38 cm (15 in.).
Normally found: bay and banks; not on reefs in water less than 60 ft.
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Pinfish
small mouth with incisor-like teeth; distinctive black spot behind the gill cover; body bluish-silver with blue and orangeyellow horizontal stripes, yellow fins.
Normally found: seagrass beds, bridges, piers, marker pilings, and around natural and
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Queen Snapper
color of back and upper sides red, lower sides; silvery body long and slender; dorsal fin distinctly notched; large eyes; caudal fin deeply forked; no dark lateral spot.
Similar fish: other snappers.
Normally found: OFFSHORE over rocky reefs of the
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Red Drum
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. Normally found: juveniles are an
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Red Grouper
color brownish red; lining of mouth scarletorange; blotches on sides in unorganized pattern; second spine of dorsal fin longer than others; pectoral fins longer than pelvic fins; squaredoff tail; margin of soft dorsal black with white at midfin; black
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Red Porgy
the only American porgy with a rear nostril that is round (not slit-like); head and body silvery red, with many tiny blue spots.
Size: to 91 cm (3 ft.).
Normally found: deeper part of continental shelf, but young occur in water as shallow as 18 m
(60
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Red Snapper
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.
Normally found: OFFSHORE on the continental shelf, more plentiful off the
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Round Scad
names: cigar minnow
Description: long, fusiform; greenish-blue fading to silver on sides, belly white; narrow, yellowish stripe from head to caudal peduncle.
Normally found: midwater or bottom from shallow water to about 50 fathoms, juveniles sometimes
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