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 pounds.

*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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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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Tarpon
Family Elopidae Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus)

Description: greenish or bluish on top and shading into bright silver on the sides. Huge scales and large mouth is turned upwards and the lower jaw contains an elongated, bony plate. The last ray of the dorsal fin is much longer than the others, reaching nearly to the tail.
Similar Fish: Ladyfish, Elops saurus.
Where Found: Inshore fish, in bays and estuaries; occasionally enters freshwater, occurring in tidal pools and canals; adult fish spawn OFFSHORE where the ribbon-like larval stage of the fish can be found.


Size: 40 to 50 pounds


*Florida Record: Tarpon caught with conventional tackle is 243 pounds, caught by Gus Bell in Key West in 1975 on just 20-pound test line.
Remarks: slow grower; matures at 7 to 13 years of age; spawning occurs between May and September; female may lay more than 12 million eggs; can tolerate wide range of salinity; juveniles commonly found in fresh water; can breathe air at surface; feeds mainly on fish and large crustaceans. known to spawn OFFSHORE, ribbon-like larvae very similar to Albula and Megalops, peaking in fall; adult feeds predominantly on fish and crustaceans; leaps when hooked.

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