Species Library: Saltwater
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Saltwater Fish
Almaco Jack
Almaco Jack: Seriola rivoliana
Appearance:
A deep-bodied amberjack
Sometimes they appear darker in coloration and their front dorsal and anal fins are high and… Read More
Atlantic Croaker
Atlantic Croaker: Micropogonias undulatus
Appearance:
Atlantic Croaker have an inferior mouth with 3 to 5 pairs of small barbels on the chin
They have a silver-gray or… Read More
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark: Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
Appearance:
The snout is flattened and long
White trailing edge of pectoral
Dorsal and caudal fins are… Read More
Banded Rudderfish
Banded Rudderfish: Seriola zonata
Appearance:
Fish that are less than 11 inches long have a dark band from the eye to the first dorsal fin and six prominent bars on… Read More
Black Drum
Black Drum: Pogonias cromis
Appearance:
High arched back
10 to 14 pairs of chin barbels
Gray or black colored body in adults with the young have 4 to 6 vertical… Read More
Black Grouper
Black Grouper: Mycteroperca bonaci
Appearance:
Olive or gray body coloration with black blotches and brassy spots
gently rounded preopercle
Similar in appearence to… Read More
Black Sea Bass
Black Sea Bass: Centropristis striata
Appearance:
Basic color is dark brown or black
Dorsal fin has rows and stripes of white on black
Large males have iridescent… Read More
Blacktip Shark
Blacktip Shark
Appearance:
Dark, bluish-gray (young paler) back, with a distinctive whitish stripe on the flank
The inside tip of the pectoral fin is conspicuously… Read More
Bluefish
Bluefish
Appearance:
Bluefish are greenish blue on their back, with silvery sides and a large mouth filled with prominent, sharp teeth.
Habitat:
Young usually are… Read More
Bonefish
Bonefish: Albula vulpes
Appearance:
Silvery, with torpedo-shaped body and conical snout.
Habitat:
Bonefish primarily inhabit inshore shallows of the Florida Keys, often… Read More
Bonnethead Shark
Bonnethead Shark: Sphyrna tiburo
Appearance:
Broadly widened head in the shape of a shovel
Only slight indentation of anal fin
Front of head not notched at… Read More
Bue Marlin
Blue Marlin
Appearance:
Upper cobalt blue on top shading to a silvery white below
Upper jaw elongated in form of a spear
The dorsal, pectoral and anal fins are all… Read More
Cero Mackerel
Cero Mackerel: Scomberomorous regalis
Appearance:
Color of back iridescent bluish green
Sides silvery with yellow spots forming lines above and below a bronze stripe… Read More
Cobia
Cobia: Rachycentron canadum
Appearance:
Long, slim fish with a broad depressed head
The lower jaw protrudes past the upper jaw
Dark lateral stripe extends through the… Read More
Dolphin (Fish)
Dolphin: Coryphaena hippurus
Appearance:
Bright greenish blue above, yellow on sides and has the capability to flash a wide range of colors
The body tapers sharply… Read More
Fantail Mullet
Fantail Mullet: Mugil gyrans
Appearance:
Color olive green with blue tints on back, shading to silvery sides, white below
Anal and pelvic fins yellowish
Dark blotch… Read More
Florida Pompano
Florida Pompano: Trachinotus carolinus
Appearance:
Greenish gray on back, shading to silvery sides
Fish in dark waters showing gold on throat, pelvic, and anal… Read More
Gag Grouper
Gag Grouper: Mycteroperca microlepis
Appearance:
Brownish gray in color with dark, worm-like side markings
Fins dark, with anal and caudal having a white margin
Lack… Read More
Goliath Grouper or Jewfish
Goliath Grouper (Jewfish): Epinephelus itajara
Appearance:
Head and fins covered with small black spots
Irregular dark and vertical bars present on the sides of… Read More
Greater Amberjack
Greater Amberjack: Seriola dumerili
Appearance:
A dark stripe (variably present) extends from nose to in front of dorsal fin and "lights up" when fish is in feeding… Read More
Gulf Flounder
Gulf Flounder: Paralichthys albigutta
Appearance:
Body is brown in color with the shade depending on the color of the bottom, with numerous spots and blotches
3… Read More
Gulf Sturgeon
Gulf Sturgeon: Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi
Appearance:
What is there to appreciate about a big fish? Plenty, say scientists who study the Gulf sturgeon. The Gulf… Read More
Jack Crevalle
Crevalle "Jack": Caranx hippos
Appearance:
Color bluish-green to greenish-gold back and silvery or yellowish belly
Soft dorsal and anal fins almost identical in… Read More
Jolthead Porgy
Jolthead Porgy: Calamus bajonado
Appearance:
Generally silvery to brassy, with a bluish cast
Front of the head is brown, with a blue line along lower rim of eye; a… Read More
King Mackerel
King Mackerel: Scomberomorus cavalla
Appearance:
Color ranges from black iridescent to bluish green with silvery sides
The body is streamlined with a tapered head
No… Read More
Kingfish
King Mackerel: Scomberomorus cavalla
Appearance:
Color ranges from black iridescent to bluish green with silvery sides
The body is streamlined with a tapered head
No… Read More
Knobbed Porgy
Knobbed Porgy: Calamus nodosus
Appearance:
Body deep; front profile very steep
Nape projects strongly in large adults
Body is generally silvery, with a rosy… Read More
Ladyfish
Ladyfish: Elops Saurus
Appearance:
Long torpedo-like body, heavy slime and bright silver/white with dark green back.
Dorsal brownish gold, pectoral and anal… Read More
Lesser Amberjack
Lesser Amberjack: Seriola fasciata
Appearance:
Olive green or brownish black and silver sides
Dark band (variably present) extends upward from eye
Juveniles have… Read More
Longbill Spearfish
Longbill Spearfish: Tetrapturus pfluegeri
Appearance:
Color of body dark blue shading to silvery, white underneath
Dorsal fin bluish, others brown-black
Two dorsal… Read More
Nassau Grouper
Nassau Grouper: Epinephelus striatus
Appearance:
Color light background with brown or red-brown bars on sides
Stripe in shape of tuning fork on forehead
Third spine… Read More
Palometa
Palometa: Trachinotus goodei
Appearance:
Grayish-blue-green on top of head and along the back
Bright silvery sides
Yellow on breast
Elongated dorsal and anal… Read More
Permit
Permit: Trachinotus falcatus
Appearance:
Color gray, dark or iridescent blue above, shading to silvery on the sides
May show golden tints around the breast in darker… Read More
Red Drum
Red Drum: Sciaenops ocellatus
Appearance:
Chin without barbels
Copper-bronze body; lighter in clear waters
1 to many spots at the base of the tail
Mouth horizontal… Read More
Red Grouper
Red Grouper: Epinephelus morio
Appearance:
Color brownish red
Lining of mouth scarlet-orange
Blotches on sides in unorganized pattern
Second spine of dorsal fin… Read More
Red Porgy
Red Porgy: Pagrus pagrus
Appearance:
The only American porgy with a near nostril that is round (not slit-like)
Head and body silvery red, with many tiny blue… Read More
Rock Sea Bass
Rock Sea Bass: Centropristis philadelphica
Appearance:
Color olive-brown or bronze, with dark blotches forming vertical bars
Dark black blotch on middle of dorsal fin… Read More
Sailfish
Sailfish: Istiophorus platypterus
Appearance:
Color dark blue on top, brown-blue laterally and silvery white underbelly
Upper jaw elongate in the form of a… Read More
Sand Seatrout
Sand Seatrout: Cynoscion arenarius
Appearance:
Pale body color, yellow above, silver to white below
One or two prominent canine teeth usually at tip of upper… Read More
Sandbar Shark
Sandbar Shark: Carcharhinus plumbeus
Appearance:
Snout broadly rounded and short
First dorsal fin triangular and very high
Poorly developed dermal ridge between… Read More
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark: Sphyrna lewini
Appearance:
Fifth gill slit shorter than 4 preceding ones and located posterior to pectoral fin base
Flattened head… Read More
Scamp
Scamp: Mycteroperca phenax
Appearance:
Color light gray or brown
Large adults with elongated caudal-fin rays
Reddish brown spots are on sides that tend to be grouped… Read More
Schoolmaster
Schoolmaster: Lutjanus apodus
Appearance:
Color olive gray on upper sides with yellow tinge, sometimes with reddish tinge around head
Long triangular snout
Eight pale… Read More
Sheepshead
Sheepshead: Archosargus probatocephalus
Appearance:
Basic silvery color with 5 or 6 distinct vertical black bars on the sides; bars are not always the same on both… Read More
Shortfin Mako Shark
Shortfin Mako Shark: Isurus oxyrinchus
Appearance:
Lunate tail with similarly sized lobes
Lateral keel at the base of the tail
Deep blue back and white… Read More
Silver Perch
Silver Perch: Bairdiella chrysoura
Appearance:
Color silvery with yellowish fins
No spots
No chin barbels
No prominent canine teeth at tip of upper jaw
Preopercle… Read More
Silver Seatrout
Silver Seatrout: Cynoscion nothus
Appearance:
Pale straw colored above, silvery sides and white below
No distinctive pigmentation, although faint diagonal lines may be… Read More
Snapper (Blackfin)
Blackfin Snapper: Lutjanus buccanella
Appearance:
Color is generally red, with yellowish caudal, anal, and pelvic fins
Distinctive and prominent dark comma-shaped… Read More
Snapper (Cubera)
Cubera Snapper: Lutjanus cyanopterus
Appearance:
Color dark brown or gray, may have a reddish tinge
Broad-based triangular tooth patch on roof of mouth without a… Read More
Snapper (Dog)
Dog Snapper: Lutjanus jocu
Appearance:
Color brown with a bronze tinge, lighter on sides
Canine teeth are very sharp and one pair is notably enlarged, visible even… Read More
Snapper (Gray)
Gray Snapper: Lutjanus griseus
Appearance:
Dark brown or gray with reddish or orange spots in rows along the sides
A dark horizontal band from snout through eye is… Read More
Snapper (Lane)
Lane Snapper: Lutjanus synagris
Appearance:
Color silvery-pink to reddish with short, irregular pink and yellow lines on its sides
Diffuse black spot, about as large… Read More
Snapper (Mahogany)
Mahogany Snapper: Lutjanus mahogoni
Appearance:
Color grayish-olive with a reddish tinge
Conspicuous dark spot, about the size of the eye, is located below the soft… Read More
Snapper (Mutton)
Mutton Snapper: Lutjanus mahogoni
Appearance:
Color olive green on back and upper sides
All fins below the lateral line having reddish tinge
Bright blue line below… Read More
Snapper (Queen)
Queen Snapper: Etelis oculatus
Appearance:
Color of back and upper sides red
Silvery body long and slender
Dorsal fin distinctly notched
Large eyes
Caudal fin… Read More
Snapper (Red)
Red Snapper: Lutjanus campechanus
Appearance:
Color pinkish red over entire body, whitish below
Long triangular snout
Anal fin is sharply pointed
No dark lateral… Read More
Snapper (Silk)
Silk Snapper: Lutjanus vivanus
Appearance:
Back and upper sides pinkish red, shading to silvery sides with undulating yellow lines
Pectorals are pale yellow
Back edge… Read More
Snapper (Vermilion)
Vermilion Snapper: Rhomboplites aurorubens
Appearance:
color of entire body reddish, with a series of short, irregular lines on its sides, diagonal blue lines formed by… Read More
Snapper (Yellowtail )
Yellowtail Snapper: Ocyurus chrysurus
Appearance:
back and upper sides olive to bluish with yellow spots; lower sides and belly with alternating narrow, longitudinal pink… Read More
Snook (Common)
Common Snook: Centropomus undecimalis
The common snook, Centropomus undecimalis, is one of Florida's most popular inshore game fish because of its spectacular fighting… Read More
Snook (Fat)
Fat Snook: Centropomus parallelus
Appearance:
Deeper body than other snooks
Color yellow-brown to green-brown above, silvery on sides
Black lateral line extends onto… Read More
Snook (Swordspike)
Swordspine Snook: Centropomus ensiferus
Appearance:
Smallest of the snooks; profile slightly concave; prominent lateral line outlined in black (not solid), extends through… Read More
Snook (Tarpon)
Tarpon Snook: Centropomus pectinatus
Appearance:
only snook with 7 anal fin rays (others have 6); lower jaw curves upward; compressed body; prominent black lateral line… Read More
Spanish Mackerel
Spanish Mackerel: Scomberomorous maculatus
Appearance:
Color of back green, shading to silver on sides with golden yellow irregular spots found above and below the… Read More
Spotted Seatrout
Spotted Seatrout: Cynoscion nebulosus
Appearance:
Dark gray or green above, with sky-blue tinges shading to silvery and white below
Numerous distinct round black spots… Read More
Striped Mullet
Striped Mullet: Mugil cephalus
Appearance:
Color bluish-gray or green above, shading to silver on sides with distinct horizontal black barrings, white below
Fins… Read More
Swordfish
Swordfish: Xiphias gladius
Appearance:
A rather unique billfish, with a flattened bill formed from an elongated upper jaw. It has a single high dorsal fin and one keel on… Read More
Tarpon
Tarpon: Megalops atlanticus
Appearance:
Tarpon have a distinctive dorsal fin ray that extends into a long filament, a large upward pointing mouth and very large… Read More
Tripletail
Tripletail
Appearance:
The rounded second dorsal and anal fins are similar in size and along with a rounded tail fin, give the fish its name. The bases of those fins have… Read More
Wahoo
Wahoo: Acanthocybium solanderi
Appearance:
A member of the mackerel family, long and streamlined with about 30 dark wavy bars for camouflage.
Habitat:
Found offshore;… Read More
Warsaw Grouper
Warsaw Grouper: Epinephelus nigritus
Appearance:
uniformly dark brown, with no distinct markings; dorsal fin with 10 spines; second spine very long (much longer than… Read More
Weakfish
Weakfish: Cynoscion regalis
Appearance:
dark olive or blue-green back; sides covered in tones of blue, purple, lavender, gold and copper; irregular diagonal rows of… Read More
White Grunt
White Grunt: Haemulon plumieri
Appearance:
body color light bluish-gray, head with horizontal blue stripes, white underbelly; black blotch on preopercle; margin of each… Read More
White Marlin
White Marlin: Tetrapterus albidus
Appearance:
color of body dark blue to chocolate brown, shading to silvery white underbelly; noticeable spots on dorsal fin; upper jaw… Read More
Yellowfin Grouper
Yellowfin Grouper: Mycteroperca venenosa
Appearance:
color highly variable greenish olive or bright red with longitudinal rows of darker black blotches over entire fish;… Read More
