Term
Atlantic Croaker
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Inferior mouth; small barbels on chin; silver-gray or bronze body with dark vertical wavy bars or lines on upper sides; iridescent especially on head; preopercle strongly serrated.
Size: Usually less than 2 pounds
Daily Limit: 25
Minimum size: No Minimum Size
Season: All Year |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Black Drum
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: High arched back; 10 to 14 pairs of chin barbels; deep bronze or dusky black colored body in adults; juveniles have 4 to 6 vertical black stripes on dusky white background; has cobblestone-like teeth capable of crushing oysters; scales are large.
Size: Commonly around 30 pounds
Daily Limit: 15
Minimum size: 14" TL |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Black Sea Bass
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Dark brown to black with only slightly lighter belly in adults. Males may have iridescent blue markings during the breeding season and have a large fatty hump in front of the dorsal fin. Stripes or white spots may be seen on the dorsal fin and the caudal fin may be tri-lobed. The topmost ray of the caudal fin will be greatly elongated in adults.
Size: Commonly less than 2 pounds
Daily Limit: 15
Minimum size: 12" TL |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Florida Pompano
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Greenish gray on top with silvery sides, yellow gold on throat and undersides. Dorsal fin is dark but other fins are yellow. Has a deep flattened body with a small mouth.
Size: Around 2 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Red Drum
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Iridescent silver-gray with bronze overtones. They will have one or more large spots near the base of the caudal fin. Unlike others in the drum family, reds do not have barbels under their chins.
Size: Average 15 to 20 pounds
Daily Limit: 5
Minimum size: 14"-23" TL |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Sheepshead
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Five to seven dark bars or stripes over a dull white, gray or yellowish background. They have large protruding teeth with incisors and molars for crushing shellfish or urchins. These teeth help distinguish Sheepshead from juvenile Black Drum. Sheepshead also do not have barbels under their chins.
Size: Common around 7 pounds but can easily be found up to 10 pounds.
Daily Limit: 15
Minimum size: 10" FL |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Southern Flounder
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Left-eyed. Generally brown but the color can vary widely depending on the color of the bottom where the fish hides. It is missing the prominent eye-like spots (ocelli) seen on the Summer and Gulf Flounders.
Size:Averages 2-4 pounds
Daily Limit: 15
Minimum size: 12" TL |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Southern Kingfish
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Large head in proportion to its body and has barbels on chin. It has a flat belly and yellowish color on top with silvery sides. Also has darker indistinct blotches along its sides.
Size: Maximum length of around 20 inches (TL). Usually less than a pound, can be up to 2 pounds.
Daily Limit: No Limit
Minimum size: No Minimum Size |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Spot
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Has a forked tail and dark spot directly behind the gill cover. Yellow-brown on top with white underbelly and darker wavy lines on dorsal surface.
Size:Can get up to 15 inches (TL), seldom more than one pound.
Daily Limit: 25
Minimum size: No Minimum Size |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Spotted Sea Trout
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Dark gray or green on top and lightening to silvery on the sides and bottom, numerous black spots along back and tail. Has prominent canine teeth at the front of the mouth on the tip of the upper jaw.
Size:Can be 40 inches. Commonly around 6 pounds but can get up or over 10.
Daily Limit: 15
Minimum size: 13" TL |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Summer Flounder
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Left-eyed, generally olive to brown in coloration depending on their surroundings. Eye-like spots (ocelli) liberally sprinkled over specimen and there will always be five or more, unlike the Gulf Flounder which always has three.
Size:Males at 1 year (9.8”) and females at 1½ (11”)*.
Daily Limit: 15
Minimum size: 12" TL |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Tarpon
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Bright silvery sides with dark green or brown along dorsal side. Only has one dorsal fin, with a lone streamer coming off the last ray. Has huge scales and a large upward facing mouth.
Size:Normally can range from 40-280 pounds with females being larger than males. Maximum length of 100 inches.
Daily Limit: 1 (no sale)
Minimum size: 68" FL |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Triple Tail
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: The dorsal, caudal, and anal fins are set closely together, making it look as if this fish has three tails. It is usually mottled shades of brown and has a concave head and small looking mouth.
Size: A maximum length of around 45”and averages from 2-12 pounds.
Daily Limit: 2
Minimum size: 18" TL |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Weakfish
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Body greenish gray above and silvery below, back with small spots forming undulating diagonal dotted lines. Pelvic fins and anal fin yellowish other fins pale, sometimes with a yellowish tinge. Prominent canine teeth on tip of upper jaw.
Size:Maximum length of 40”, average 2-3 pounds but common to 6 pounds.
Daily Limit: 1
Minimum size: 13" TL |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Striped Burrfish
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Small spines cover the body in rows, 5 to 7 large dark blotches on back and sides, with many, approximately parallel to obliquely intersecting dark lines distributed over light background color. No small, dark spots either on body or fin.
Size:Maximum length of 11” (TL) |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Striped Mullet
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Back and upper sides are dark bluish-gray or green with distinct horizontal black barrings; lower sides and belly are silvery and white. Tail is deeply forked. It has a blunt nose and small mouth.
Size: Can get up to 48” (SL), usually run around 1-3 pounds but 5-pounders are common and the maximum weight is probably around 10 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Atlantic Manhaden
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Silvery, with brassy sides and a dark bluish green back, upper jaw has median notch. A black spot behind gill opening, followed along flank by approximately 6 lines of smaller spots. Has a sharp-edged belly. The rear margins of the scales are nearly vertical (not rounded), and are edged with long comb-like teeth instead of being smooth.
Size: Average around 8” |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Blue Runner
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Steel blue to light green above with silvery-gray or gold underparts. Frequently has a black spot on the operculum and can be distinguished from the Crevalle Jack by the lack of a black spot on the pectoral fin. It is also more streamlined than the Crevalle. Has a highly forked tail with black tips.
Size: Usually less than 1 pound (11”) |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Bluefish
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Steel blue shading to silvery white below. Has a dark spot at the base of the pectoral fin. Large mouth with large, prominent, sharp teeth. The second dorsal and anal fins are nearly the same size. Has a forked tail.
Size: Common up to 10-12 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Crevalle Jack
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Deep compressed body with blunt head. 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. Sickle shaped tail.
Size: Usually 3-5 pounds but they can get upwards of 50 pounds in some parts of the world. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Gafftopsail Catfish
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: The head is bigger and the mouth is larger but the coloration is similar to that of the Hardhead Catfish. Long, soft streamers extend from the dorsal and pectoral fins. The dorsal and pectoral fins are equipped with a serrated erectile spine, both of which are venomous. One pair of barbels on chin.
Size: Mostly found at more than a pound but rarely over 10 pounds. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Hardhead Catfish
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Barbels adorn the underside and corners of the mouth. Back and upper sides are gray to almost black, with white or silvery undersides. Tail is deeply forked. First spines of dorsal and pectoral fins are stiff and sharp and coated with venomous slime that can make a puncture excruciatingly painful.
Size: Generally less than a pound, but can get up to around 3 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Inshore Lizard Fish
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Colored in shades of brown with dark blotches or diamond marks on the sides. Large mouth, triangular snout, pointed, projecting beyond tip of mandible.
Size: Around 12-18 inches |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
LadyFish
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Silvery overall with a greenish back and a single, prominent dorsal fin, deeply forked tail, and large, scoop-shaped mouth. It has a slender body with small scales and the head is small and pointed.
Size: Most are around one pound and 4 pounds is considered big |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Mummichog
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Square or fanlike tails and some have fanlike dorsal fins as well. Color is usually mottled brown, often with stripes.
Size: Usually around 2-4 inches |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Northern Puffer
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Upper side gray or brown with poorly defined black spots and saddles. Belly yellow to white and rough when inflated. Tiny jet-black pepper spots scattered over most of pigmented surface, particularly evident on cheeks. Lower sides with a row of black, elongate, bar-like markings. The small mouth is equipped with large, clipping teeth.
Size: Around 8-10 inches |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Northern Searobin
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Have wing-like pectoral fins, the forward rays of which are modified into “feet” that they use to creep along the bottom.
Size: Usually a foot or less |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Oyster Toadfish
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Has a wide head, large mouth, “warty looking” skin. Spiny dorsal fins can administer a painful puncture. Sharp gill covers and strong jaws give further reason to handle with care.
Size: Less than a foot long |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Pigfish
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: : The back is gray to blue; sides are light tan or whitish with orange lines and diagonal bars. The back is elevated and it has a long, tapered snout.
Size: Common between 3-10 inches |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Pinfish
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Sharp spines of the dorsal and anal fins give this fish its name. Silvery background color with narrow longitudinal yellow lines and, sometimes, dim vertical bars. There is a dark patch on the lateral line just behind the gill cover.
Size: Mostly around 3-6 inches. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Silver Perch
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: : Silver with a grayish or steely back. The fins are yellowish to dusky. Does not have canine teeth at the tip of the top jaw or chin barbels. Terminal mouth.
Size: Around 6-8 inches |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Blackfin Tuna
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Dark overall, with a bronze stripe down the side, the finlets are dark with white edges.
Size: Common from 2-20 pounds, may be found up to 40. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Blue Marlin
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Cobalt blue to almost black on top, shading to silvery white on the bottom. Pale blue bars along sides. Upper jaw elongated to form a spear. Dorsal fin pointed at front end, pectoral fin and anal fin also pointed. Size and pointed dorsal fin are key distinguishing features.
Size: Commonly up to 500 pounds. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Bonito
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Looks similar to the Little Tunny with dark blue on the dorsal surface, fading to white on the belly. However, the Bonito has a series of wavy lines along the upper half of is body and no spots on the lower half. It also has two dorsal fins that are not divided.
Size: Averages usually between 4-10 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Cobia
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Dark brown on top and sides, torpedo shaped. In the water they are often mistaken for sharks. Lower jaw is longer than upper and it has no teeth. Has a dark band than runs from the eye to the tail, more obvious in younger specimens. First dorsal fin is made up of free spines.
Size: Common from 20-50 pounds. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Dolphin
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: 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 from anus to tail.
Size: Common to 30 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Great Barracuda
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Long with pointed head and many conspicuous needle-like teeth. It is silvery on the sides with dark, random splotches. It also has two, widely spaced dorsal fins.
Size: Usually 10-20 pounds but are not unusual up to 40 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Greater Amberjack
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Dark line runs from eye to the front of the first dorsal fin. Its back is blue to olive in color fading to silver on the sides. Often have an amber stripe or amber or pinkish cast on the sides. No scutes.
Size: Common to 40 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
King Mackerel
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Iron gray to bluish green along the back and fading to silver on the sides. Long, streamlined body with a tapered head. Mouth is large with razor-sharp teeth. First dorsal is gray and the lateral line drops sharply below the second dorsal.
Size: Common to 20 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Little Tunny
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Metallic overall, being steel-bluish above and silver below. Wavy stripes along the posterior portion of the back, several scattered dark spots below the pectoral fin and small finlets behind the second dorsal and anal fins are identifying characters.
Size: Common to 15 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Sailfish
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: It is dark blue along the upper half of the body, fading to brownish-blue on the lower sides to silver white on the belly. The first dorsal fin is high, sail-like, blue-black and covered with many small black spots. All related billfish have a high dorsal fin as juveniles, but only sailfish retain the high fin throughout life. The other fins are silver-blue. On the sides there are 15 to 20 vertical bars consisting of several small blue spots (visible when it is alive).
Size: Averages 35-60 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Spanish Mackerel
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Its back is 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.
Size: Usually 2-3 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Swordfish
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Have rounded bodies and long flattened snouts. Brownish-black on the back and upper sides, fading to a pale brown on the lower sides and belly. Identifying characteristics are the lack of pelvic fins and gill rakers, and the presence of a single lateral keel located on each side of the caudal peduncle. Marlins, spearfish and sailfish have two keels.
Size: Average around 50 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Wahoo
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Long and slender with vivid blue or black “zebra” stripes, and a narrow, elongated mouth with razor-sharp teeth. No gill rakers are present.
Size: Mostly around 20-50 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Yellowfin Tuna
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: They are metallic dark blue on the back and upper sides, changing from yellow to silver on the belly. The dorsal and anal fins, and finlets are bright yellow. Tuna species are difficult to distinguish. Bigeye, Blackfin, Albacore and Yellowfin are similar in shape and are often caught together. One characteristic that distinguishes the Yellowfin from other species are it’s elongated and lunate anal and dorsal fins on large fish but young fish lack this trademark and so are hard to distinguish.
Size: 50-100 pounds are common |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Atlantic Spadefish
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Deep-bodied, compressed disk-shaped fish with a blunt snout. Adults are silver gray with three to six prominent black vertical bars along the sides. The first bar passes through the eye, and the last is on the caudal peduncle. They can be distinguished from angelfish by the existence of two dorsal fins instead of one.
Size: Average 2-3 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Gag Grouper
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Coloration is highly variable in gag and changes with the size of the fish. Large male gag are dark brownish-gray above and paler below, with traces of dark wavy markings on the sides. Smaller fish and females are much lighter and have numerous dark brown or charcoal kiss-like marks along the sides. The Scamp, M. phenax, and Black Grouper, M. bonaci, closely resemble the gag and often occur in the same habitat. 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.
Size: Usually around 20-30 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Gray Triggerfish
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: The Gray Triggerfish has large incisor teeth and a deep laterally compressed body covered with tough, sandpaper-like skin. Unlike their cousin, the filefish, triggerfish have more than one dorsal spine. The action of this spine gives the triggerfish its (common) name. The first spine is large, and when erect it remains so until the smaller second spine is deflexed, triggering the first. The gray triggerfish is easily distinguished by its drab color from the queen triggerfish, which is vividly colored.
Size: Average around 2 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Tomtate
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Silver white all over with a yellow-brown stripe running the length of the body and ending as a black blotch at the base of the caudal fin. The inside of its mouth is bright red.
Size: Usually about 6 inches |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Vermillion Snapper
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Color of entire body reddish, with 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; anal fin is rounded; orientation of mouth and eye give it the appearance of looking upward; no dark lateral spot.
Size: Usually less than one pound |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Red Snapper
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Bright rosy red on top, deepening as the fish grows larger, fading to silver on belly. The canine teeth are present but less prominent than those of the Gray or Mutton Snapper. The eye is red and the anal fin triangular, long triangular snout.
Size: Common up to 10 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Scamp
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Related to the gag and other slender-bodied groupers, the scamp are identified by their pronounced anal and soft dorsal ray extensions, a more concave profile of the head, and by 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.
Size: Usually under 10 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Spottail Pinfish
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Large black patch on caudal peduncle. More round than the pinfish in overall shape. Color is brown above shading to silvery below. Has a very dark lateral line.
Size: Usually around a pound and 6-8 inches |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Red Porgy
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: The red porgy has a silvery-red body. There may be many tiny blue spots. If a specimen is available, this species can be identified clearly by the presence of a round rear nostril; this nostril is slit-like in other porgies.
Size: Around 2-3 pounds |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
White Grunt
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: The white grunt is silver-gray, with numerous blue and yellow stripes on the body and head. On some individuals the scales are tipped with bronze. The pectoral fins are chalky and the other fins are gray. The lining of the body cavity, or peritoneum, is black.
Size: Around 8-10 inches |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Atlantic Sharpnose
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Dorsal surfaces brownish-gray with scattered white spots in adults, white below; dorsal and caudal fins black-edged in juveniles. Second dorsal fin originating over or behind midpoint of anal fin. Mouth with long labial furrows around corners, not interdorsal ridge.
Size: Small shark of usually less than 4 feet. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Blacktip Shark
Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: The first and second dorsal fins, pectoral fins, and the lower lobe of the caudal fin are black-tipped (black markings may fade in adults and may be indistinct in juveniles) and the anal fin is white. The first dorsal fin is fairly large with a short free tip, originating slightly over or behind the insertion of the pectoral fins along the inner margin and the apex is pointed.
Size: Up to about 6½ feet |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
