All About Fish
Select a fish for information
Gag Grouper
Family Seranidae, SEA BASSES AND GROUPER Mycteroperca microlepis
Description: Brownish gray in color with dark worm-like markings on sides; strong serrated spur at bottom margin of preopercle, less noticeable in large specimens; fins dark, with anal and caudal having white margin. Often confused with black grouper; 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.
Similar Fish: Black grouper M. bonaci.
Where Found: Adults OFFSHORE over rocks and reefs; juveniles occur in seagrass beds INSHORE.
Size: Common to 25 punds.
*Florida Record: 71 lbs., 3 oz.
Remarks: Forms spawning aggregations in water no shallower than 120 feet in Middle Grounds area, January through March; current research to identify similar aggregations off Atlantic coast is ongoing. young gags are predominantly female, transforming into males as they grow larger; feeds on fish and squid.
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Red Grouper
Family serranidae, SEA BASSES AND GROUPER Epinephelus morio
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, M. bonaci.
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 punds.
*Florida Record: 39 lbs., 8 ozs.
Remarks: Spawns in April and May; perfer 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.
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White Grunt
Family Haemulidae, GRUNTS Haemulon plumieri
Description: Body color light bluish-gray, head with horizontal blue stripes, white underbelly; black blotch on preopercle; margin of each scale bronze; large bright orange mouth; scales above lateral line larger than scales below lateral line.
Similar Fish: Other grunts
Where Found: From SHORE to the outer reef edge or OFFSHORE hard bottom to 115 feet; most abundant in water less than 80 feet deep; juveniles INSHORE.
Size: Most catches 1.5 pounds (15 inches).
*Florida Record: N/A
Remarks: Audible grunting is produced by grinding of the pharyngeal teeth, with air bladder acting as amplifier; spawning occurs on OFFSHORE hard bottom or reefs from May through June; feeds on crustaceans, mollusks and small fishes.
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Black Sea Bass
Family Serranidae, SEA BASSES AND GROUPER Centropristis striata
Description: Basic color dark brown or black; dorsal fin has rows and stripes of white on black; large males have irridescent blue and ebony markings, and fatty hump in front of dorsal fin; females may have indistinct vertical barrings; topmost ray of caudal fin much elongated in adults; caudal may be tri-lobed; sharp spine near posterior margin of gill cover.
Similar Fish: Bank Sea Bass C. ocyurus; other centropristis..
Where Found: Structure-loving fish, associated with reefs and rubble OFFSHORE; smaller specimens often found INSHORE finger channels.
Size: common to 1.5 punds (13 inches).
*Florida Record: 5lbs., 1oz.
Remarks: spawns January through March; Protogynous hermaphrodites, older females becoming breeding males; omnivorous bottom feeders, diet including small fish, crustaceans, and shell fish.
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Mangrove Snapper
Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS
Description: color dark brown or gray with reddish or orane spots in rows along the sides; dark horizontal band from snout through eye (young only); two conspicuous canine teeth at front of upper jaw; dorsal fins have dark or reddish borders; no spot on side underneath dorsal fin.
Similar Fish: cubera snapper,L. cyanopterus.
Where Found: juveniles inshore in tidal creeks, mangroves, and grass beds; adults generally nearshore or offshore on coral or rocky reefs.
Size: offshore catches common to 10 pounds
*Florida Record: N/A
Remarks: spawns June through August; feeds on crustaceans and small fish
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Red Snapper
Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS - Lutjanus campechanus
Description: color pinkish red over entire body, whitish below; long triangular snout; anal fin sharply pointed; no dark lateral spot.
Similar Fish: vermilion snapper,R. aurorubens.
Where Found: OFFSHORE on the continental shelf, more plentiful off the panhandle than in south or middle Florida.
Size: to 20 pounds.
*Florida Record: 46 lbs., 8 ozs.
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; sexual maturity attained at age 2; spawns June to October; feeds on crustaceans and fish.
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Greater Amberjack
Family Carangidae, JACKS and POMPANOS - Seriola dumerili
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.
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*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 redords are provided as only a benchmark.
