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Here
are some of the sports fish you can catch on
The Cutting Edge:
Sailfish, Marlin, Swordfish, Dolphin, Wahoo, Tuna, Kingfish, Cobia,
Grouper, Snapper, Yellow Tail, Barracuda, and many species of Sharks. |
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Blue Marlin
Family Istiophoridae,
BILLFISHES
Makaira nigricans |
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Description: color cobalt blue on top
shading to silvery white on bottom; upper jaw
elongated in form of spear; dorsal fin pointed
at front end; pectoral fin and anal fin pointed;
lateral line reticulated (interwoven like a
net), difficult to see in large specimens; no
dark spots on dorsal fin; body covered with
embedded scales ending in one or two sharp
points.
Similar Fish: white marlin, Tetrapterus
albidus (white has rounded tip of pectoral
and anal fins, and spots on the dorsal fin).
Where
found: OFFSHORE, a blue water fish.
Size:
largest of the Atlantic marlins, common to 11
feet, known to exceed 2,000 pounds.
*Florida Record: 980 lbs., 8 ozs.
Remarks: all of trophy size are females;
males do not exceed 300 pounds; make
trans-Atlantic migrations; spawning procedures
unknown; feeds on squid and pelagic fishes,
including black fin tuna and frigate mackerel.
*
The Florida records quoted are from the
Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not
necessarily the most current ones. The records
are provided as only as a benchmark. |
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White Marlin
Family Istiophoridae,
BILLFISHES
Tetrapterus albidus |
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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, Makaira
nigricans.
Where
found: OFFSHORE, a blue water fish.
Size:
common to 8 feet.
*Florida Record: 161 lbs.
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.
*
The Florida records quoted are from the
Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not
necessarily the most current ones. The records
are provided as only as a benchmark. |
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Sailfish
Family Istiophoridae,
BILLFISHES
Istiophorus platypterus |
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Description: color dark blue on top,
brown-blue laterally, silvery white underbelly;
upper jaw elongated in form of spear; first
dorsal greatly enlarged in the form of a sail,
with many black spots, its front squared off,
highest at its midpoint; pelvic fins very
narrow, reaching almost to the anus; body
covered with embedded scales, blunt at end;
lateral line curved above pectoral, then
straight to base of tail.
Similar Fish: white marlin, Tetrapterus
albidus; young blue marlin, Makaira
nigricans (spectacular sail-like dorsal of
sailfish is most notable difference).
Where
found: OFFSHORE species, in south Florida
associated with waters near the Gulf Stream; off
the Panhandle near the 100 foot fathom line.
Size:
common to 7 feet.
*Florida Record: 116 lbs.
Remarks: rapid growing species, reaching 4
to 5 feet in a single year; swims at speeds up
to 50 knots; feeds on the surface or at
mid-depths on smaller pelagic fishes and squid.
*
The Florida records quoted are from the
Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not
necessarily the most current ones. The records
are provided as only as a benchmark. |
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Swordfish
Family Xiphiidae, SWORDFISHES
Xiphias gladius
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Description: color of
back variable, black, grayish
blue, brown, metallic purple, or
bronze; sides dusky; underbelly
dirty white; long, flat,
sword-like upper jaw; lacks
scales, teeth, and pelvic fins;
single keel on each side of body
in front of tail; first dorsal
fin high, rigid and short; large
eyes.
Similar Fish: no close
resemblance to other billfishes.
Where found: OFFSHORE
species worldwide in temperate
and tropic waters; known to
frequent depths of 400 to 500
fathoms; also has been seen
basking at the surface.
Size: once averaged 200
pounds but over harvest has
reduced size of commercially
caught swordfish to average of
48 inches.
*Florida Record: 612
lbs., 12 ozs.
Remarks: large swordfish
are all females, males seldom
exceeding 200 pounds; except
when spawning, females believed
to prefer water cooler than that
favored by males; feeds on
squid, octopus, and pelagic
fishes of all kinds.
* The Florida records
quoted are from the Department
of Environmental Protection's
printed publication, Fishing
Lines and are not necessarily
the most current ones. The
records are provided as only as
a benchmark. |
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Cobia (ling)
Family Rachycentridae, COBIA
Rachycentron canadum |
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Description: 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.
Similar Fish: remora, Echeneis naucrates.
Where
found: both INSHORE and NEARSHORE inhabiting
inlets, bays, and among mangroves; frequently
seen around buoys, pilings, and wrecks.
Size:
common to 30 pounds.
*Florida Record: 103 lbs., 12 ozs.
Remarks: spawns in spring and early summer;
feeds on crabs, squid, and small fish.
*
The Florida records quoted are from the
Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not
necessarily the most current ones. The records
are provided as only as a benchmark. |
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Black Grouper
Family Serranidae, SEA BASSES
AND GROUPER
Mycteroperca bonaci |
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Description: olive or gray body coloration
with black blotches and brassy spots; gently
rounded preopercle.
Similar Fish: gag M. microlepis;
yellowfin grouper, M. venenosa.
Where
found: OFFSHORE species; adults associated
with rocky bottoms, reef, and drop off walls in
water over 60 feet deep; young may occur INSHORE
in shallow water.
Size:
common to 40 pounds, may attain weights
exceeding 100 pounds.
*Florida Record: no Florida record because
of identity confusion with gag, which are
mistakenly called "black grouper."
Remarks: spawns between May and August;
protogynous hermaphrodites, young predominantly
female, transforming into males as they grow
larger; larger individuals generally in greater
depths; feeds on fish and squid.
*
The Florida records quoted are from the
Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not
necessarily the most current ones. The records
are provided as only as a benchmark. |
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Red Grouper
Family Serranidae, SEA BASSES
AND GROUPER
Epinephelus morio |
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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, E. striatus.
Where
found: bottom dwelling fish associated with
hard bottom; juveniles OFFSHORE along with
adults greater than 6 years old; fish from 1 to
6 years occupy NEARSHORE reefs.
Size:
common to 15 pounds.
*Florida Record: 39 lbs., 8 ozs.
Remarks: spawns in April and May; prefer
water temperatures between 66 and 77 degrees F;
undergoes sex reversal, young individual females
becoming males as they age; lifespan of at least
25 years; feeds on squid, crustaceans, and fish.
*
The Florida records quoted are from the
Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not
necessarily the most current ones. The records
are provided as only as a benchmark. |
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Yellowfin Grouper
Family Serranidae, SEA BASSES
AND GROUPER
Mycteroperca venenosa |
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Description: color highly variable greenish
olive or bright red with longitudinal rows of
darker black blotches over entire fish; outer
one third of pectoral fins bright yellow; lower
parts of larger fish with small bright red
spots.
Similar Fish: black grouper, M. bonaci;
other grouper.
Where
found: OFFSHORE on reefs off southern
portions of Florida.
Size:
common to 20 pounds.
*Florida Record: 34 lbs., 6 ozs.
Remarks: undergoes sex reversal from female
to male in latter part of life; specific name
translates to "venomous," alluding to the fact
that this fish, perhaps more frequently than
other groupers, is associated with ciguatera
poisoning; feeds on fish and squid.
*
The Florida records quoted are from the
Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not
necessarily the most current ones. The records
are provided as only as a benchmark. |
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Yellowmouth Grouper
Family Serranidae, SEA BASSES
AND GROUPER
Mycteroperca interstitialis |
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Description: color tan or brown with darker
spots, or a network of spots, fused into lines;
distinct yellow wash behind the jaws; yellow
around the eyes; outer edges of fins yellowish.
Similar Fish: scamp, M. phenax.
Where
found: OFFSHORE over reefs and rocks; not as
common as scamp in the Gulf; range limited to
southern Florida.
Size:
common to 15 pounds.
*Florida Record: 28 lbs.
Remarks: undergoes sex reversal, young
individuals female, older individuals becoming
male; young fish are bicolor, dark above white
below; feeds on small fish and crustaceans.
*
The Florida records quoted are from the
Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not
necessarily the most current ones. The records
are provided as only as a benchmark. |
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Almaco Jack
Family Carangidae, JACKS and
POMPANOS
Seriola rivoliana |
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Description: a deep-bodied amberjack;
sometimes darker in coloration; front of soft
dorsal and of anal fins high and elongated; body
more flattened than banded rudderfish or greater
amberjack; no scutes.
Similar Fish: other Seriola.
Where
found: wide-ranging in OFFSHORE waters, not
a common catch; young are associated with
Sargassum.
Size:
usually less than 20 pounds.
*Florida Record: n/a
Remarks: spawns OFFSHORE, apparently during
spring, summer, and fall.
*
The Florida records quoted are from the
Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not
necessarily the most current ones. The records
are provided as only as a benchmark. |
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Crevalle Jack
Family Carangidae, JACKS and
POMPANOS
Caranx hippos |
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Description: 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.
Similar Fish: other Caranx.
Where
found: common in both INSHORE waters and the
open sea.
Size:
usually 3 to 5 pounds.
*Florida Record: 51 lbs.
Remarks: tolerates a wide range of
salinities; schools corner a school of baitfish
at the surface and feed with commotion that can
be seen at great distances; feeds mainly on
small fish; peak spawning occurs OFFSHORE from
March through September.
*
The Florida records quoted are from the
Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not
necessarily the most current ones. The records
are provided as only as a benchmark. |
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Blue Runner
Family Carangidae, JACKS and
POMPANOS
Caranx crysos |
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Description: color light olive to bluish
green above; silvery gray to golden below;
frequently black spot on operculum; readily
distinguished from crevalle jack by lack of
black blotch on pectoral fin; tail tips
blackish.
Similar Fish: bluefish, Pomatomus
saltarix, other Caranx.
Where
found: juveniles found OFFSHORE; adults
NEARSHORE in schools, but sometimes ranging
INSHORE as well.
Size:
usually less than 1 pound (11 inches).
*Florida Record: 7 lbs.
Remarks: matures by 9 to 10 inches; spawns
OFFSHORE from January through August; young form
schools associated with floating objects, and
have been observed living inside the bell of
jellyfish; adults feed on fish, shrimp, and
squid.
*
The Florida records quoted are from the
Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not
necessarily the most current ones. The records
are provided as only as a benchmark. |
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Greater Amberjack
Family Carangidae, JACKS and
POMPANOS
Seriola dumerili |
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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 anal fin base.
Similar Fish: other Seriola.
Where
found: OFFSHORE species associated with
rocky reefs, debris, and wrecks, typically in 60
- 240 feet of water; sometimes caught NEARSHORE
in south Florida; juveniles associated with
floating objects and may occur in water less
than 30 feet deep.
Size:
common to 40 pounds.
*Florida Record: 142 lbs.
Remarks: largest of the jacks; thought to
spawn OFFSHORE throughout most of the year;
feeds on squid, fish, and crustaceans.
*
The Florida records quoted are from the
Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not
necessarily the most current ones. The records
are provided as only as a benchmark. |
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King Mackerel
Family Scombridae, MACKERELS
and TUNAS
Scomberomorous cavalla |
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Description: color of back iridescent bluish
green; sides silvery, streamlined body with
tapered head; no black pigment on front of
dorsal fin; lateral line starts high and drops
sharply below the second dorsal fin; young fish
often have yellow spots like those of the
Spanish mackerel.
Similar Fish: cero, S. regalis;
Spanish mackerel, S. maculatus.
Where
found: NEARSHORE and OFFSHORE, occasionally
taken from piers running into deep water.
Size:
common to 20 pounds.
*Florida Record: 90 lbs.
Remarks: schooling fish that migrates from
South Florida waters in winter to more northerly
waters in spring; Gulf population thought to be
separate from Atlantic population, with
considerable mixing in winter from Cape
Canaveral past Key West; spawns in midsummer
OFFSHORE; feeds on small fish and squid.
*
The Florida records quoted are from the
Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not
necessarily the most current ones. The records
are provided as only as a benchmark. |
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Spanish Mackerel
Family Scombridae, MACKERELS
and TUNAS
Scomberomorous maculatus |
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Description: color of back 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.
Similar Fish: cero, S. regalis; king
mackerel, S. cavalla.
Where
found: 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 inches).
*Florida Record: 12 lbs.
Remarks: 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.
*
The Florida records quoted are from the
Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not
necessarily the most current ones. The records
are provided as only as a benchmark. |
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Scalloped Hammerhead
Family Sphyrnidae, HAMMERHEAD
SHARKS
Sphyrna tiburo |
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Description: fifth gill slit shorter than 4
preceding ones and located posterior to pectoral
fin base; flattened head extending to
hammer-like lobes on each side; distinct
indentation of the front margin of the head at
its midpoint; second dorsal fin longer than
tail; gray-brown to olive in color with white
underbelly; teeth smooth-edged; pectoral fins
tipped with black on the undersurface; tips of
first and second dorsal lobes and caudal also
may have dusky tips; pelvic fin with nearly
straight hind margin.
Similar Fish: other hammerhead sharks.
Where
found: both OFFSHORE and INSHORE.
Size:
common to 6 feet and can reach 14 feet.
*Florida Record: n/a
Remarks: predatory fish, feeding mainly on
fish, squid, and stingrays; male matures at
about 6 feet in length.
*
The Florida records quoted are from the
Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not
necessarily the most current ones. The records
are provided as only as a benchmark. |
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Cubera Snapper
Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS
Lutjanus cyanopterus |
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Description: color dark brown or gray, may
have a reddish tinge; broad-based triangular
tooth patch on roof of mouth with a posterior
extension; despite its specific name, which
translates to "blue-fin," the fins have only a
slight tinge of blue; canine teeth in both jaws
very strong; one pair of canines enlarged and
visible even when mouth is closed.
Similar Fish: gray snapper.
Where
found: juveniles INSHORE in grass beds;
adults OFFSHORE or NEARSHORE over wrecks, reefs,
and ledges.
Size:
common to 40 pounds.
*Florida Record: 116 lbs.
Remarks: the largest of the snappers,
ranging to 125 pounds; not common anywhere in
its range; feeds on fishes and larger
crustaceans; in the Keys, spawns during later
summer.
*
The Florida records quoted are from the
Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not
necessarily the most current ones. The records
are provided as only as a benchmark. |
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Mutton Snapper
Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS
Lutjanus analis |
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Description: color olive green on back and
upper sides, all fins below the lateral line
having reddish tinge; bright blue line below
eye, following contour of operculum; anal fin
pointed; small black spot below dorsal fin;
V-shaped tooth patch on
Similar Fish: lane snapper, L. synagris
(anal fin pointed in mutton snapper, rounded in
lane).
Where
found: an INSHORE species associated with
grass beds, mangroves, and canals; larger adults
occasionally found on OFFSHORE reefs.
Size:
common to 15 pounds.
*Florida Record: 27 lbs., 6 ozs.
Remarks: spawns in July and August; feeds on
fish, crustaceans, and snails.
*
The Florida records quoted are from the
Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not
necessarily the most current ones. The records
are provided as only as a benchmark. |
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Yellowtail Snapper
Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS
Ocyurus chrysurus |
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Description: back and upper sides olive to
bluish with yellow spots; lower sides and belly
with alternating narrow, longitudinal pink and
yellow stripes; prominent midlateral yellow
stripe begins at mouth and runs to tail,
broadening as it passes the dorsal fins; caudal
fin yellow and deeply forked; no dark lateral
spot.
Similar Fish: none.
Where
found: juveniles INSHORE on grass beds and
back reefs; adults NEARSHORE or OFFSHORE over
sandy areas near reefs.
Size:
common to 3 pounds.
*Florida Record: 7 lbs., 5 ozs.
Remarks: found mainly in tropical waters;
spawns in midsummer; rarely exceeds 30 inches
and 5 pounds in size; feeds on small fish and
invertebrates.
*
The Florida records quoted are from the
Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not
necessarily the most current ones. The records
are provided as only as a benchmark. |
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Wahoo
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Blackfin Tuna |
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Source: Fishing Lines, a Department
of Environmental Protection publication. |
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