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Identify Your Fishing Finds
 Black drum |
High-arch back; 10 to 14 pairs of chin barbells; adults are gray or black. Young have 4 to 6 vertical bars and cobblestone-like teeth; large scales. Found inshore, often around oyster beds, bays and lagoons. Bottom-dweller. Size: 30 pounds. Largest member of the drum family; spawns near shore in winter and early spring, feeds on oysters, mussels, crabs and shrimp and fish; longevity 30 to 40 years.
 Cobia |
Long, slim fish with broad, depressed head; lower projects past upper jaw; dark lateral stripe extends from eyes to tail; first dorsal fin comprised of 7 to 9 free spines; when young, has conspicuous alternating black and white horizontal. Found both inshore and near shore. Size: 30 pounds. Spawns in spring and early summer.
 Flounder |
Body color is brown, its shade depending on color of bottom, with numerous spots and blotches; 3 prominent eye-like spots forming a triangle. Numerous white spots scattered over body and fins. They have strong canine-like teeth. Size: 2 pounds.
 Grouper |
These fish are among the best feeding in the area. Size: 20 pounds, 20 inches.
 King mack |
Iridescent bluish-green back; sides silvery; streamlined body with tapered head; lateral line starts high and droops sharply below second dorsal fin; young can have yellowish spots like Spanish mackerel. Size: 20 pounds. Schooling fish; migrate from South Florida in winter to more northerly waters in spring; Gulf and Atlantic populations thought to be separate with mixing in winter from Cape Canaveral past Key West.
 Permit |
Coloring is gray, dark or iridescent blue with shading to silvery sides; in dark waters showing golden tints around breasts; small permit have teeth on tongue, no scutes; dorsal fin insertion directly above that of the anal fin; 17 to 21 soft dorsal rays; 16 to 19 soft anal rays. Size: 25 pounds.
 Pompano |
Greenish-gray on back with shading to silvery sides; fins in dark waters showing gold on throat, pelvic and anal fins; deep, flat body with small mouth; nose scutes; 22 to 27 soft dorsal rays; 20 to 23 soft anal rays; origin of anal fin slightly behind origin of second dorsal. Size: less than 3 pounds.
 Redfish |
Chin without barbells; copper bronze body; lighter shades in clear waters; one to many spots at base of tail (rarely no spots); mouth horizontal and opening down worths; large scales. Size: 27 inches; weight 8 pounds.
 Sheepshead |
Basic silvery color with 5 or 6 distinct vertical black bands on sides; not always the same on both sides; prominent teeth, including incisors, molars and rounded grinders; no barbells on lower jaw; strong and sharp spines on dorsal and anal fins. Size: inshore, 1 to 2 pounds; offshore, 8 pounds.
 Mangrove snapper |
Color is dark brown or gray with reddish or orange spots in rows along 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 dark spot on side underneath dorsal fin. Size: offshore, 8 to 10 pounds.
 Snook |
Distinct black lateral line; high, divided dorsal fin; sloping forehead; large mouth, protruding lower jaw. Size: 5 to 8 pounds.
 Tarpon |
Last ray of dorsal fin extended into long filament; one dorsal fin; back is dark blue to green or greenish black with shading into bright silver on the sides; maybe brownish gold in estuarine waters; huge scales; mouth is large and points upward. Size: most anglers catch snook around 40 to 50 pounds.
 Tripletail |
Resembles a bass; its dorsal, anal and tail fins make it appear to have three tails. These fish sometimes float on their sides at the surface. Size: up to 39 inches and 20 pounds.
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