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Groupers Snappers
Tuna
family
Bill Fish Game fish
Drum Flounders
Miscellaneous
Salt Water Fish Identifications
Going fishing? It is best if you go fishing for a particular species Each
one has their own preferences in location and feeding habits. Being able to
Identify them once they are caught will help you to determine whether you want
to release them or keep them as some fish are regulated by size or season or
completely prohibited.
Remember: Most regions that are enforced, require that you leave the fish
nearly intact until you reach port, That means the innards and the gills can and should
be removed. Whereas the head and the entire body must be intact No filleting
unless you are preparing it to be eaten on board
Illustrations are for viewing
purposes only.
See bottom of page for artist and copyright information.
Size requirements are measured from the tip of the lower jaw to the tip
of the tail.
Groupers
|
Nassau Grouper -
Epinephelus striatus |
| Description - A brownish color with brown or
red-brown bars on the sides. A stripe in the shape of a tuning fork
on its forehead. The third spine of dorsal fin longer than the
second. Pelvic fins shorter than pectorals with black dots around
the eyes. |
| Habitat - They are found offshore and near shore
around rocky reefs limited to south Florida. |
| Size - 10-20 pounds. |
|
|
Goliath Grouper (formerly
Jewfish) -
Epinephelus itajara |
| Description - A brownish color covered
with small black spots (especially on the head). Pectoral and caudal fins rounded. Small
eyes. |
| Habitat - They are found near shore around
docks, in deep holes and on ledges. Prefer the warmer
tropical and sub tropical waters. These are protected in many
locations and in all of Florida waters. Not to be confused
with the Nassau grouper. |
| Size - Weighing up to 700 pounds. |
| Remarks:
Spawns over summer months; lifespan of 30 to 50 years; feeds on
crustaceans and fish. It has been said that these fish suck
their prey into their mouths, but never proven. Legend has it
that a large one can suck a skin diver right off the surface. We
don't know about, that but they have been known to strike a lure
on troll and then just sit in the bottom like as though you had
snagged a coral head. Normally caught by bottom fishing
with cut or whole bait. |
|
|
GAG
Grouper -
Mycteroperca microlepis |
|
| Description - 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; tail of gag is slightly
concave, black is square; gag has white margin on anal and caudal
fins, black does not; under 10 pounds, gag's spur on preopercle is
distinctive, where black is gently rounded. |
| Habitat - adults
OFFSHORE over rocks and reefs; juveniles occur in seagrass beds
INSHORE. |
| Size/Weight - common to 25 pounds |
| Remarks:
Young gags are predominantly female, transforming into males as
they grow larger; feeds on fish and squid. Caught just off the
bottom with cut bait. |
|
|
Red Grouper -
Epinephelus morio |
| Description - A brownish red color with
scarlet-orange lining around the mouth. Cream colored blotches on
the sides in an unorganized pattern. The second spine of dorsal
fin is longer than the others. Black dots around the eyes. |
| Habitat - They are bottom dwelling fish
found on hard bottoms offshore. |
| Size - 10 -20 pounds. |
|
|
Black
Grouper -
Mycteroperca bonaci |
|
| Description - olive
or gray body coloration with black blotches and brassy spots;
gently rounded preopercle. Not to confused with the Gag Grouper |
| Habitat - OFFSHORE
species; adults associated with rocky bottoms, reef, and drop off
walls in water over 60 feet deep; young may occur INSHORE in
shallow water. |
| Size/Weight - common
to 40 pounds, may attain weights exceeding 100 pounds. |
| Remarks:
young predominantly female, transforming into males as they grow
larger; larger individuals generally in greater depths; feeds on
fish and squid. Fish for them just of the bottom with cut bait. |
|
|
Yellowfin Grouper -Mycteroperca
venenosa |
| Description - Highly variable greenish olive
or bright red with longitudinal rows of darker black blotches over
entire fish. The outer one-third of pectoral fins are bright
yellow with small bright red spots. |
| Habitat - Found offshore on reefs off of
southern portions of Florida. |
| Size - 20 - 30 pounds. |
|
|
Yellowmouth Grouper -Mycteroperca
interstitialis |
| Description - Tan or brown with darker spots
fused into lines. A very distinct yellow wash behind the jaws with
yellow around the eyes. Outer edges of fins are yellow. |
| Habitat - Found offshore over reefs and
rocks limited to southern Florida. |
| Size - 15 - 30 pounds. |
|
|
Scamp -
Mycteroperca phenax |
| Description - Light grey or brown with
reddish-brown spots on sides that tend to be grouped into lines.
There is some yellow around corners of mouth. |
| Habitat - They are found near shore reefs
off the northeastern coast and on offshore reefs in the gulf. |
| Size - 10 -20 pounds. |
|
|
Black Sea Bass -
Centropristis striata |
| Description - grey/brown to blackish/blue
coloration with broad vertical stripe pattern and two dorsal fins;
large males have iridescent blue and ebony markings, and fatty
hump in front of dorsal fin; females may have indistinct vertical
bars; sharp spine near posterior margin of gill cover. |
| Habitat - frequent areas from Massachusetts
to Florida; in summer, deep waters with typical depths of 30 - 70
feet; in winter, move to depths of approximately 200 feet;
associated with reefs and rubble on the ocean floor |
| Size/Weight - average in the range of 1.5 to
5 lbs. |
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Snappers
|
Red Snapper -Lutjanus
campechanus |
|
| Description:
color pinkish red over entire body, whitish below; long triangular
snout; anal fin sharply pointed; no dark lateral spot. |
| Habitat - OFFSHORE
on the continental shelf, plentiful off the panhandle
and south Florida. as well as throughout the Carribean |
| Size/Weight - in the range of 4 to
20 lbs. |
|
|
Giant Snapper
-Lutjanus cyanopterus |
| Description - Dark grey or brown with a tint
of red. Has very strong canine teeth in both jaws, one pair of
canines enlarged and visible even when mouth is closed. |
| Habitat - They are found offshore or
nearshore over wrecks, reefs and ledges. |
| Size - Averaging up to 40 pounds. |
|
|
Crimson Snapper -
Pristipomoides filamentosus |
| Description - pinkish to a light brown skin. |
| Habitat - offshore through out the tropical
Pacific at depths of 30 to 100 fathoms. |
| Size - between 12 and 18 pounds. |
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Drum Fish
|
Red Drum (redfish)-
Sciaenops ocellata |
| Description - Have a brass/copper tint to
the skin and a dark spot near the base of the tail; horizontal
mouth with the opening facing downward; large scales. |
| Habitat - Inhabit waters from
Massachusetts to Texas; younger fish stay inshore and inhabit
offshore at 4 years (30 inches). |
| Size/Weight - Average in the range of 20
lbs. or less. |
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Large Game Fish
Bill Fish
Marlin - Sailfish - Swordfish etc.
|
Sailfish -
Istiophorus platypterus |
| Description - Dark blue on top, brown-blue
laterally with a silvery white underbelly. Its upper jaw is
elongated in the form of a spear. Its body is covered with
imbeddedded scales, blunt at end lateral line curved over
pectoral, then straight to the base of tail. |
| Habitat - They are found offshore world-wide
in warm waters. |
| Size - Pacific Variety may average 8 - 12
feet. and the Atlantic Variety are usually around 6 - 7 feet. |
|
|
Swordfish -
Xiphias gladius |
|
| Description - black to a grayish
blue color with a white bottom; long, flat, sword-like
upper jaw; lacks scales, teeth and pelvic fins and has a
single keel on each side of its body in front of tail;
high dorsal fin and large eyes. |
| Habitat - offshore worldwide in
tropical waters and is known to frequent depths of 400 to
500 fathoms. |
| Size - averaging 125 - 200 pounds. |
| Remarks:
large swordfish are all females, males seldom exceeding
200 pounds; except when spawning, females believed to
prefer water cooler than that favored by males; feeds on
squid, octopus, and pelagic fishes of all kinds. Longline
fishing has seriously decimated this species. |
|
|
|
Blue Marlin -Makaira
nigricans |
|
| Description - Cobalt blue on
top shading to a silvery white on bottom. The upper jaw is
elongatedin the form of a spear. The dorsal fin is pointed
at the front end. The body is covered with embedded scales
ending in one or two sharp points. |
| Habitat - Found in deep water |
| Size - The largest of the Atlantic
marlins grow to 11 feet and exceed 2,000 pounds and are
stouter than their Pacific cousins (Makaira
nigricans mazar)
which may become 15 feet and weigh 1800 pounds |
| Remarks:
all of trophy size are females; Feeds on squid and pelagic
fishes, including blackfin tuna and frigate mackerel. |
|
|
|
White Marlin -
Tetrapterus albidus |
|
| Description - color
of body dark blue to chocolate brown, shading to silvery
white underbelly; noticeable spots on dorsal fin; upper
jaw elongated in shape of spear; body covered with
embedded scales with a single sharp point; tips of first
dorsal, pectoral, and first anal fins rounded; lateral
line curved above pectoral fin, then going in straight
line to base of tail. |
| Habitat - Found in deep water |
| Size - Up to 8 feet and 160 lbs |
| Remarks:
uses its bill to stun fast-moving fishes, then turns to
consume them; spawning procedures unknown; ranges
throughout the Atlantic and Caribbean; feeds on squid and
pelagic fishes. Use outriggers when fishing to allow bait
to appear to be stunned. |
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Salmon
|
Chum Salmon
- Oncorhynchus keta |
| Description - Black or dark olive above
with dark streaks on body. |
| Habitat - Found in coastal streams from
California to Alaska and Korea and Japan |
| Size - Average 8 - 15 pounds. |
|
|
Sockeye Salmon - Oncorhynchus
nerka |
Mature
Young
| Description - Young Sockeye are Metallic blue-green over
silver with small black specks. Mature spawning sockeye have a
pronounce hook on upper lip are predominantly red . Spawning
sockeye may be 3 or 4 deep in a spawning river causing it
to appear as blood red. Mature are most frequently caught in
salt water. See salmon
Spearing /gigging |
| Habitat - Found in rivers in the United
States, Korea and Japan. |
| Tackle - Young will strike dry flies and spoons.
Mature spawning may strike a fly out of instinct but normally do
not feed when spawning. |
| Size - Average weight is 5 - 7 pounds. |
|
|
Silver Salmon -
Oncorhynchus kisutch |
| Description - Metallic blue above and
silver below with black spots. White gumline at base of mouth.
Upper lip becomes more pronounced with age. |
| Habitat - Found in Pacific Northwest and
Great Lakes in North America. |
| Size - Average weight is 6 - 12 pounds. |
|
|
King Salmon
- Oncorhynchus tshawytscha |
| Description - Small male often dusky
yellow, larger male blotchy and dull red on the side. They have
irregular spots on the back and fins. Black gums at the base of
mouth. Older ones have a more pronounced upper lip. |
| Habitat - Large rivers, Pacific and Great
Lakes in ocean and coastal streams. |
| Size - Average weight is 15 - 20 pounds. |
|
Miscellaneous Saltwater Game
fish
|
Dolphin Fish (Dorado) -
Coryphaena hippurus |
| Description - Brilliant blue and silver
dappled with yellow. Tapered body with a bluntly rounded head. Iridescent
when first landed and fades immediately. |
| Habitat - They are found offshore and
inshore tropical waters. |
| Size - Between 8 and 25 pounds. |
|
|
Tarpon -
Megalops atlanticus |
|
| Description - 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 estuarien waters;
huge scales; mouth large and points upward. |
| Habitat - primarily
INSHORE fish, although adult fish spawn OFFSHORE Sometimes found
inland in freshwater canals that connect to saltwater. |
| Size - Between 40 to 50 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 surface; feeds mainly
on fish and large crustaceans. Has an extremely hard mouth plate
and hooks must be sharpened. Great fighting fish and difficult
to land as they tend to throw the hook when line is short. |
|
|
Bluefish -
Pomatomus saltatrix |
| Description - blue-green coloration blending
in with silver on the sides and white on the belly; spiney dorsal
fin, and a large mouth with strong, sharp, triangular teeth useful
in catching small bait fish; travel together in schools with
larger fish traveling in smaller groups and farther out in the
waters. |
| Habitat - inhabit various waters on the
Atlantic Coast from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia migrating to Florida
east coast in winter; "snappers", or baby bluefish
frequent rivers and lagoons from May to September. |
| Size/Weight - Average about 2 lbs. but may
reach up to 20 lbs. |
|
|
Common Snook -
Centropomus undecimalis |
|
| Description - distinct
lateral line; high, divided dorsal fin; sloping forehead; large
mouth, protruding lower jaw; grows much larger than other snooks;
pelvic fin yellow. Regulations
and bag limits |
| Habitat - primarily
INSHORE in coastal and brackish waters, along mangrove
shorelines, seawalls, and bridges; also on reefs and pilings
near shore. May be found in troughs of South Florida near shore
in the fall. |
| Size - Between 5 to 12 lbs on average (12
different varieties) |
| Remarks:
cannot tolerate water temperatures below 60 degrees F;
can tolerate fresh or saltwater; schools along shore and
in passes during spawning season; feeds on fish and large
crustaceans. Skin must be removed before cooking or it will have
a distinctly soapy taste, hence it's old name "Soap
fish". Nice fight for first few minutes but tires quickly. |
|
|
Bonefish -
Albula vulpes |
|
| Description - silvery color with
bluish or greenish back with a slender round body; long,
conical snout, aiming downward and overhanging lower
jaw; dark streaks between its scales on the upper half
of its body and faint crossbands extending down to the
lateral line; extremities of dorsal and caudal fins
shaded with black. |
| Habitat - inshore inhabiting
shallows of the Florida Keys; shallows less than 1 foot
deep, usually over lush grass flats, occasionally over
white sand. |
| Size - 3 to 5 pounds. |
| Remarks:
travels in loose schools; roots out shrimp, shellfish,
crabs, and fish from the bottom. Often time caught on
fly fishing gear and are truly a game fish as opposed to
a table fish. Great fight for the size. |
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Tunas and related fish
|
Albacore Tuna -
Thunnus alalunga |
| Description - Black to a silverish grey.
Rounded body and sharp fins. |
| Habitat - They are found offshore through
out the tropical Pacific at depths of 75 to 150 fathoms. |
| Size - Over 40 pounds in round weight. |
|
|
Bigeyed Tuna -
Thunnus alalunga |
| Description - Black to a silverish grey.
Similar in general appearance to yellowfin tuna the bigeye may
be recognized by its plump body, its larger head and its
unusually large eyes. |
| Habitat - They are found offshore through
out the tropical Pacific at depths of 150 to 250 fathoms. |
| Size - 40 - 80 pounds in round weight. |
|
|
|
Spanish Mackerel -
Scomberomorus maculatus |
| Description - Have a shiny silvery skin
with yellowish spots in the dorsal fin area; front of dorsal fin
black; lateral line curves gently to base of tail |
| Habitat - Inhabit waters from Cape Cod to
Brazil. |
| Size/Weight - 9-10 lbs. and approximately
3 feet |
|
|
King Mackerel -
Scomberomorous cavalla |
| Description - color of back iridescent
bluish green; sides silvery, streamlined body with tapered head;
no black pigment on front of dorsal fin; lateral line starts
high and drops sharply below the second dorsal fin; young fish
often have yellow spots like those of the Spanish mackerel. |
| Habitat - nearshore and offshore; common
in the coastal zone from North Carolina to Brazil. |
| Size/Weight - average between 10-50 lbs. |
|
|
Cobia -
Rachycentron canadum |
| Description - long, slim fish with broad
depressed head; lower jaw projects past upper jaw dark brown
with dark lateral stripes from eye to tail; first dorsal fin
comprised of 7 to 9 free spines. |
| Habitat - inhabit warm bodies of water
from Massachusetts to Argentina and various tropical to
temperate areas around the world; typically found around buoys
and other floating objects in bays, inlets, and mangroves. |
| Size/Weight - average 8-10 lbs. yet have
reached 150 lbs. |
| Remarks:
spawns in spring and early summer; feeds on crabs, squid, and
small fish. Tackle can be live bait |
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Flounders
|
Gulf Flounder -
Paralichthys albigutta |
|
| Description - 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. |
| Habitat -INSHORE
on sandy or mud bottoms, often ranging into tidal creeks;
occasionally caught on NEARSHORE rocky reefs. |
| Size/Weight - common
to 2 pounds, generally smaller than southern flounder. |
| Remarks:
hatches into usual fish form, but right eye migrates over to left
side early in life; a bottom dweller; thought to spawn OFFSHORE;
feeds on crustaceans and small fishes. |
|
|
Summer Flounder -
Paralichthys dentatus |
| Description - A flat sided fish with both
eyes usually on the left side of the body. They have brown to tan
colored skin with dark brown spots which change to blend in with
their surroundings. Their large mouth is filled with teeth which
it uses to feed on small fish, squid, crabs, and shrimp. |
| Habitat - Found on sandy bottoms in waters
from Maine to South Carolina. Populate back bays beginning in May
and migrate through inlets and out to inshore lumps into September
and October. |
| Size/Weight - Average weight is about 2-6
lbs, with some reaching 15-20 lbs. |
|
|
Winter Flounder -
Pseudopleuronectes americanus |
| Description - A flat sided fish with both
eyes usually on the right side of the body; vary in color from
coppery brown to dark grey with dark spots; small toothless mouth
is barely an inch around. |
| Habitat - Inhabit waters from Labrador to
Georgia; found in shallow water on muddy bottoms in early spring. |
| Size/Weight - Range from a weight of 1 1/2
lbs. to as high as 5 lbs. |
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Miscellaneous
fish
|
Weakfish -
Cynoscion regalis |
| Description - silver body of the weakfish,
combined with it's greenish back and pattern of dark spots make
them very colorful in the water; 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; soft,
"weak" tissue surrounding their mouth makes these fish
difficult to hook. |
| Habitat - frequent many bays ranging from
up north in Massachusetts to down south in Florida; inhabit
inshore during the warmer months and move offshore during the
colder winter months. |
| Size/Weight - Weakfish average in the
range of 5 to 8 lbs. |
|
|
Striped Bass -
Morone saxatilis |
| Description - distinct horizontal dark
stripes along their silvery-green body; spiney front dorsal fin;
stout body; slightly forked tail; projecting lower jaw. |
| Habitat - inhabit rocky and sandy shores
and some beach front areas; found among the surf, tidal rips,
bays, estuaries, and brackish and fresh waters. |
| Size/Weight - can grow up to 70 inches and
weigh up to 70 lbs. |
|
|
Tautog (blackfish) -
Tautoga onitis |
| Description - vary in color from dark
olive to dark grey in color with females and young having spotty
coloration; white color of males chin give appearance of a
"beard". |
| Habitat - inhabit waters from Nova Scotia
to South Carolina; found in wreckage and structures below the
surface of the water at depths of 60 to 100 feet. |
| Size/Weight - range from a weight of 1 lb.
to as high as 25 lbs. |
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Many of these illustration were provided and copyrighted
by
Diane Rome Peebles
And we thank her.
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