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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.