What
We're Catchin'
RED
SNAPPER
Description: Color
pinkish red over entire body, whitish below; long triangular snout; anal fin sharply
pointed; no dark lateral spot..
Similar Fish: Vermilion snapper
Where
Found: OFFSHORE on the continental shelf, more plentiful off the Panhandle
than in south or middle Florida..
Size: 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; spawns June
to October; feeds on crustaceans and fish.
| GREATER
AMBER JACK
Description: 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 anl fin base.
Similar
Fish: Other Seriola
Where Found: OFFSHORE species associated with
rocky reefs, debris, and wrecks, typically in 60-240 feet of water; 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 through out much of the year; feeds on squid, fish, and crustaceans.
| DOLPHIN
Description: Bright
greenish blue above, yellow on sides, with capability of flashing purple, chartreuse,
body tapers sharply from head to tail; irregular blue or golden blotches scattered
over side; 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 from anus to tail.
Similar
Fish: Pompano dolphin
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.
|
COBIA
Description:An Englewood Florida Saltwater Fishing gem.
Cobia are a 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 stripes.
Where Found: Both INSHORE and NEARSHORE inhabiting
inlets, bays, and among mangroves; frequently seen around bouys, pilings, and
wrecks.
Size: Common to 30 pounds. Florida Cobia Record: 103 lbs., 12
ozs.
Cobia Fishing Techniques: Casting, Drifting, Still Fishing and
Trolling.
Remarks: Cobia spawn in spring and early summer; feeds on
crabs, squid, and small fish.
|
BLACK
GROUPER
Description:
Color light gray or brown; large adults with elongated caudal-fin rays; reddish-brown
spots on sides that tend to be grouped into lines; some yellow around corners
of mouth.
Similar Fish: Yellowmouth grouper
Where Found: NEARSHORE
reefs off the northeastern coast, and on OFFSHORE reefs in the Gulf.
Size:
Generally smaller than gags or blacks.
Remarks: Spawns in late spring;
feeds on small fish, squid, and crustaceans; undergoes sex transformation from
female to male as it becomes older.
|
RED
GROUPER
Description: Color
brownish red; lining of mouth scarlet-orange; blotches on sides in unorganized
pattern; second spine of dorsal fin longer than others; pectoral fins longer than
pelvic fins; squared-off tail; margin of soft dorsal black with white at midfin;
black dots around the eyes.
Similar Fish: Nassau grouper
Where
Found: Juveniles OFFSHORE along with adults greater than 6 years old; fish
from 1 to 6 years old occupy NEAR SHORE reefs..
Size: Common to 15 pounds,
generally smaller than southern flounder.
Remarks: Spawns in April and
May; life span of at least 25 years; feeds on squid, crustaceans, and fish.
| KING
MACKEREL
Description: 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: Spanish mackerel
Where
Found: NEAR SHORE and OFFSHORE.
Size: Common to 20 pounds.
Remarks:
Schooling fish that migrates from south Florida waters in winter to more northerly
waters in spring; spawns in midsummer OFFSHORE; feeds on small fish and squid.
| SPANISH
MACKEREL
Description: Florida charter boat fishing trips
are almost always going to produce Spanish Mackerel. Spanish Mackerel have a color
of green on the back, 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.
Where Found: Entire Gulf of Mexico INSHORE, NEARSHORE
and OFFSHORE, especially over grass beds and reefs; absent from north Florida
waters in winter.
Size: Average catch less than 2 pounds (20-22 inches).
Florida Spanish Mackerel Record: 12 lbs.
Spanish Mackerel Fishing Techniques:
Trolling; Still fishing over wrecks or reefs; Drifting.
Remarks: Spanish
Mackerel are a schooling fish that migrates northward in spring, returning to
southerly waters when water temperature drops below 70 degrees F; spawns OFFSHORE,
spring through summer; feeds on small fish and squid.
| GREY
TRIGGERFISH
Description: Entirely olive-gray; dorsal &
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.
Where
Found: Hardbottom, reefs and ledges
Size: To 20 pounds
Remarks:
Triggerfish are a good eating bottom fish that are great to go after before the
snapper season opens. Catch them all year.
| WHITE
MARLIN
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.
Similar
Fish: Blue Marlin
Where Found: OFFSHORE, a blue water fish.
Size:
Common to 8 feet
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.
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