STRIPED (BLACK) MULLET – Mugil cephalus
Family Mugilidae, MULLETS Description: color bluish-gray or green above, shading to silver on sides, with indistinct horizontal black barrings, white below; fins lightly scaled at base, unscaled above; blunt nose and small mouth; second dorsal fin originates behind that of the anal. Similar fish: white mullet, M. curema; fantail mullet, M. gyrans (both white and […]
FANTAIL MULLET – Mugil gyrans
Family Mugilidae, MULLETS Description: color olive green with blue tints on back, shading to silvery sides, white below; anal and pelvic fins yellowish; dark blotch at base of pectoral fin; inverted V-shaped mouth; insertion of second dorsal over that of the anal fin. Similar fish: striped mullet, M. cephalus; white mullet, M. curmea (note difference […]
ATLANTIC SPADEFISH – Chaetodipterus faber
Family Ephippidae, SPADEFISHES Description: silvery with 4 to 6 black vertical bands on each side which sometimes become obscure in larger fish; deep, flattened body; separated first and second dorsal fins; concave caudal fin; anterior rays of second dorsal fin and anal fin elongated. Similar fish: no close resemblance, but frequently and mistakenly called angelfish. […]
GAFFTOPSAIL CATFISH – Bagre marinus
Family Ariidae, SEA CATFISHES Description: bluish above; silvery below; dorsal and pectoral fins with long, fleshy filaments on spines; barbel at cornor of mouth flattened, bandlike, and very elongate, sometimes reaching anal fin; only 2 barbels on chin. Size: to 60 cm (2 ft.) and 2.5 kg (5 to 6 lbs.). Where found: continental waters; […]
HARDHEAD CATFISH – Arius felis
Family Ariidae, SEA CATFISHES Description: brownish to gray-green; white to yellowish below; fin spines with no fleshy filaments; barbel at corner of mouth not very flattened and shorter than head; four barbels on chin. Size: to 60 cm (2 ft.) and 5.5 kg (12 lbs.) but usually much smaller. Where found: same as for gafftopsail […]
GULF FLOUNDER – Paralichthys albigutta
Family Bothidae, LEFTEYE FLOUNDERS 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 […]
SPOT – Leiostomus xanthurus
Family Sciaenidae, DRUMS Description: the only drum in our region with a distinctly forked caudal fin; bluish to brownish above; brassy on side; silvery to white below; distinct brownish spot on shoulder; 12 to 15 narrow, diagonal dark lines on upper body. Size: to 36 cm (14 in.) Remarks: a popular pan fish. Mark MayoI […]
SOUTHERN KINGFISH – Menticirrhus americanus
Family Sciaenidae, DRUMS Description: grayish brown above, with silvery sides: 7 to 8 diagonal dusky bars or blotches on each side, but these marks are obscure and never form V-shaped marks on side; scales on chest about same size as those on body. Size: to 38 cm (15 in.) and 1 kg (2 lbs.). Where […]
GULF KINGFISH – Menticirrhus littoralis
Family Sciaenidae, DRUMS Description: similar to the Southern Kingfish but caudal fin has a blackish tip; side silvery, without dark marks; tip of spinous dorsal fin often dusky; lining of gill cavity silvery; scales on chest noticeably smaller than those on side. Size: to 46 cm (18 in.). Where found: at water’s edge, in surf. […]
WEAKFISH – Cynoscion regalis
Family Sciaenidae, DRUMS Description: dark olive or blue-green back; sides covered in tones of blue, purple, lavender, gold, and copper; irregular diagonal rows of vaguely defined dark spots appear above the lateral line; 1 to 2 prominent canine teeth usually present at tip of upper jaw; black margin on tip of the tongue; pelvic and […]