New Crew
GROUPER
 Black Grouper |
 Golliath Grouper |
 Gag Grouper |
 Red Grouper |
SNAPPER
 Gray Snapper |
 Yellow Tail Snapper |
 Lane Snapper |
GRUNTS
 Tomate |
 White Grunt |
JACKS
 Almaco Jack |
 Jack Crevalle |
 Blue Runner |
 Permit |
ANGELFISH
|
|
WRASSES
 Hogfish |
PELAGIC
 Cobia |
 Spanish Mackerel |
 Wahoo |
 King Mackerel |
 Tripletail |
BAITFISH
 Pinfish |
OTHERS
 Barracuda |
 Whale Shark |
Image Credits: Diane Rome Peebles
Black Grouper
Mycteroperca bonaci
The Black Grouper has a olive or gray body coloration with black blotches and brassy spots. The adults are found in water over 60 feet deep
Mycteroperca bonaci
The Black Grouper has a olive or gray body coloration with black blotches and brassy spots. The adults are found in water over 60 feet deep
Gag Grouper
Mycteroperca microlepis
Brownish-gray with dark markings on sides, the Gag Grouper displays a serrated spur at the bottom of its preopercle. Its dark anal and caudal fins have a white margin. Like the Black Grouper, young are predominantly female, transforming into males as they grow, commonly up to 25 pounds.
Mycteroperca microlepis
Brownish-gray with dark markings on sides, the Gag Grouper displays a serrated spur at the bottom of its preopercle. Its dark anal and caudal fins have a white margin. Like the Black Grouper, young are predominantly female, transforming into males as they grow, commonly up to 25 pounds.
Goliath Grouper
Epinephelus itajara
Weighing in at 800 pounds, the Goliath is the largest of the Grouper family and is protected from harvest by law. The fish has unusually small eyes, its head and fins are covered with small black spots, and dark bars are prominent on its sides. These fish dwell nearshore around docks, in deep holes, and on ledges.
Red Grouper
Epinephelus morio
Brownish-red with a scarlet-orange mouth, the Red Grouper is a bottom-dwelling fish that commonly grows to15 pounds. Blotches on its sides appear, and the fish has a second spine of dorsal fin longer than its others. Its squared-off tail features a margin of soft dorsal black with white at its midfin, and black dots around the eyes.
Epinephelus morio
Brownish-red with a scarlet-orange mouth, the Red Grouper is a bottom-dwelling fish that commonly grows to15 pounds. Blotches on its sides appear, and the fish has a second spine of dorsal fin longer than its others. Its squared-off tail features a margin of soft dorsal black with white at its midfin, and black dots around the eyes.
Gray (Mangrove) Snapper
Lutjanus griseus
Dark brown or gray with reddish-orange spots along the sides, Mangrove Snapper feature two conspicuous canine teeth in the upper jaw and dark or reddish Dorsal fin borders. A dark horizontal band from snout through eye is prominent when they are young. Adults, which normally grow to 10 pounds, occupy coral or rocky reefs.
Lutjanus griseus
Dark brown or gray with reddish-orange spots along the sides, Mangrove Snapper feature two conspicuous canine teeth in the upper jaw and dark or reddish Dorsal fin borders. A dark horizontal band from snout through eye is prominent when they are young. Adults, which normally grow to 10 pounds, occupy coral or rocky reefs.
Lane Snapper
Lutjanus synagris
The Lane Snapper is silvery-pink to reddish in color. It has pink and yellow lines on its sides that are short and irregular in size. A black spot as large as the eye is found on this fish. Young Lane Snappers are found inshore over grass beds or shallow reefs.
Lutjanus synagris
The Lane Snapper is silvery-pink to reddish in color. It has pink and yellow lines on its sides that are short and irregular in size. A black spot as large as the eye is found on this fish. Young Lane Snappers are found inshore over grass beds or shallow reefs.
Yellowtail Snapper
Ocyurus chrysurus
Found mainly in tropical water, the Yellowtail Snapper is characterized by its prominent midlateral yellow strip, yellow tail and olive to bluish back and upper sides with yellow spots. Adults are found nearshore or offshore over sandy reef areas.
Ocyurus chrysurus
Found mainly in tropical water, the Yellowtail Snapper is characterized by its prominent midlateral yellow strip, yellow tail and olive to bluish back and upper sides with yellow spots. Adults are found nearshore or offshore over sandy reef areas.
Tomtate
Haemulon aurolineatum
The Tomtate is an important food source for larger reef fishes. A commonly used baitfish, it reaches 10-11″ and a pound in weight. Featuring light coloring overall and a yellow to brown stripe from head to tail fin, the Tomtate touts a bright orange mouth. A black blotch at the base of its tail fin fades away in larger specimens.
Haemulon aurolineatum
The Tomtate is an important food source for larger reef fishes. A commonly used baitfish, it reaches 10-11″ and a pound in weight. Featuring light coloring overall and a yellow to brown stripe from head to tail fin, the Tomtate touts a bright orange mouth. A black blotch at the base of its tail fin fades away in larger specimens.
White Grunt
Haemulon plumieri
The White Grunt is known for its audible “grunt,” produced by grinding the pharyngeal teeth, with its air bladder acting as amplifier. This species is bluish-gray with a head of horizontal blue stripes, white underbelly and black blotch on its preopercle. Like the Tomtate, the White Grunt has a large bright orange mouth. Catches average 1.5 pounds.
Haemulon plumieri
The White Grunt is known for its audible “grunt,” produced by grinding the pharyngeal teeth, with its air bladder acting as amplifier. This species is bluish-gray with a head of horizontal blue stripes, white underbelly and black blotch on its preopercle. Like the Tomtate, the White Grunt has a large bright orange mouth. Catches average 1.5 pounds.
Almaco Jack
Seriola rivoliana
With high, elongated fins, the Almaco Jack has a more flattened body than most jack species. This dusky-colored fish is found in offshore waters and is not a common catch. It can be found in small groups near reefs.
Seriola rivoliana
With high, elongated fins, the Almaco Jack has a more flattened body than most jack species. This dusky-colored fish is found in offshore waters and is not a common catch. It can be found in small groups near reefs.
Blue Runner
Caranx crysos
With light olive to bluish green above its silvery belly, the Blue Runner has blackish tail tips. A black spot is often found on its operculum. Young blue runners are found offshore in schools. Adults are found nearshore and feed on fish, shrimp or squid.
Caranx crysos
With light olive to bluish green above its silvery belly, the Blue Runner has blackish tail tips. A black spot is often found on its operculum. Young blue runners are found offshore in schools. Adults are found nearshore and feed on fish, shrimp or squid.
Jack Crevalle
Caranx hippos
The Jack Crevalle can tolerate wide ranges of salinity and are found both inshore and offshore. It has a yellowish belly with a bluish-green to greenish-gold body. The soft dorsal and anal fins are almost identical in size.
Caranx hippos
The Jack Crevalle can tolerate wide ranges of salinity and are found both inshore and offshore. It has a yellowish belly with a bluish-green to greenish-gold body. The soft dorsal and anal fins are almost identical in size.
Permit
Trachinotus falcatus
The Permit is gray with blue blending into silvery sides, and sometimes reflects golden tints around the breast. It features more than two dozen soft dorsal and anal rays. A small Permit has teeth on its tongue, and adults are common to 40 pounds. Permit are found around wrecks and debris, on grass or sand flats and in channels.
Trachinotus falcatus
The Permit is gray with blue blending into silvery sides, and sometimes reflects golden tints around the breast. It features more than two dozen soft dorsal and anal rays. A small Permit has teeth on its tongue, and adults are common to 40 pounds. Permit are found around wrecks and debris, on grass or sand flats and in channels.
Spadefish
Chaetodipterus faber
Spadefish have deep, flattened bodies with 4 to 6 vertical bands on each side. Its first and second dorsal fins are separated with the second and anal fins being elongated. They are found near artificial reefs and feed on crustaceans and small encrusting invertebrates.
Chaetodipterus faber
Spadefish have deep, flattened bodies with 4 to 6 vertical bands on each side. Its first and second dorsal fins are separated with the second and anal fins being elongated. They are found near artificial reefs and feed on crustaceans and small encrusting invertebrates.
Hogfish (Hog Snapper)
Lachnolaimus maximus
The Hogfish’s deep, strongly compressed body grows to 3′ and usually displays as reddish hues. A large dark spot sits at the base of its soft dorsal and its mouth is protrusible. The entire head nape is purplish-brown in large males, and a dark crescent marks the base of the caudal fin.
Lachnolaimus maximus
The Hogfish’s deep, strongly compressed body grows to 3′ and usually displays as reddish hues. A large dark spot sits at the base of its soft dorsal and its mouth is protrusible. The entire head nape is purplish-brown in large males, and a dark crescent marks the base of the caudal fin.
Cobia
Rachycentron canadum
This long, slim sport fish exhibits a broad, depressed head and jutting lower jaw and dark lateral stripes extend eye to tail. Cobia grow to an average of 30 pounds and are found in inlets, bays, among mangroves and around buoys, pilings, and wrecks.
Rachycentron canadum
This long, slim sport fish exhibits a broad, depressed head and jutting lower jaw and dark lateral stripes extend eye to tail. Cobia grow to an average of 30 pounds and are found in inlets, bays, among mangroves and around buoys, pilings, and wrecks.
King Mackerel
Scomberomorus cavalla
With a streamlined body and a tapered head, the King Mackerel is black iridescent to bluish green with silvery sides. They are schooling fish that feed on small fish and squid both nearshore and offshore, often around piers.
Scomberomorus cavalla
With a streamlined body and a tapered head, the King Mackerel is black iridescent to bluish green with silvery sides. They are schooling fish that feed on small fish and squid both nearshore and offshore, often around piers.
Spanish Mackerel
Scomberomorous maculatus
Prevalent throughout Florida waters, the Spanish Mackerel has silver shading on its sides with golden yellow irregular spots above and below the lateral line. It feeds on small fish and squid and is frequently found over grass beds and reefs.
Scomberomorous maculatus
Prevalent throughout Florida waters, the Spanish Mackerel has silver shading on its sides with golden yellow irregular spots above and below the lateral line. It feeds on small fish and squid and is frequently found over grass beds and reefs.
Tripletail
Lobotes surinamensis
With scales that extend onto the rounded second dorsal, anal fins and rounded tail fin, the Triple tail found in Florida primarily during spring, summer and fall. They feed on small finsih, invertebrates and benthic crustaceans.
Lobotes surinamensis
With scales that extend onto the rounded second dorsal, anal fins and rounded tail fin, the Triple tail found in Florida primarily during spring, summer and fall. They feed on small finsih, invertebrates and benthic crustaceans.
Wahoo
Acanthocybium solanderi
Known for their tremendous runs and shifts of direction, the Wahoo is a long, streamlined fish with dark irregular wavy bars on its body. It has a iridescent blue back and silvery sides. They feed mainly on fish and squid.
Acanthocybium solanderi
Known for their tremendous runs and shifts of direction, the Wahoo is a long, streamlined fish with dark irregular wavy bars on its body. It has a iridescent blue back and silvery sides. They feed mainly on fish and squid.
Pinfish
Lagodon rhomboides
Pinfish are often found near natural and artificial reefs, seagrass beds, bridges, pilings and piers. These fish have a bluish-silver body with orange-yellow horizontal stripes. A distinctive black spot is found behind the gill cover.
Lagodon rhomboides
Pinfish are often found near natural and artificial reefs, seagrass beds, bridges, pilings and piers. These fish have a bluish-silver body with orange-yellow horizontal stripes. A distinctive black spot is found behind the gill cover.
Great Barracuda
Sphyraena, barracudas
The Barracuda is a sleek, silvery predator fish. Small black blotches can be found on its lower side, and diagonal dark bars on its green-hued upper side. Barracuda grow up to 6′ and 100 pounds. This lightning-fast swimmer should be treated with caution. Attacks on people have occurred, and the flesh of larger fish can be toxic.
Sphyraena, barracudas
The Barracuda is a sleek, silvery predator fish. Small black blotches can be found on its lower side, and diagonal dark bars on its green-hued upper side. Barracuda grow up to 6′ and 100 pounds. This lightning-fast swimmer should be treated with caution. Attacks on people have occurred, and the flesh of larger fish can be toxic.
Whale Shark
Thincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest non-cetacean animal in the world. It has a flat, wide head and a grey body that is marked with distinctive pattern of white spots and stripes. This filter feeder eats macro-algae, plankton, krill, small squid or vertebrates.
Thincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest non-cetacean animal in the world. It has a flat, wide head and a grey body that is marked with distinctive pattern of white spots and stripes. This filter feeder eats macro-algae, plankton, krill, small squid or vertebrates.