|
Identify Your Fishing
Finds
Black drum
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
Grouper
These fish are among the best feeding in the area. Size: 20 pounds, 20
inches.
King mack
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
Snook
Distinct black lateral line; high, divided dorsal fin; sloping forehead;
large mouth, protruding lower jaw. Size: 5 to 8 pounds.
Tarpon
|
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
|
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.
|
 All
freshwater Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission regulations and the "Big Catch" program
depend on "total length." The total length is the maximum length
of the fish, with the mouth closed and the tail fin pinched
together. The best way to obtain this length is to push the
fish's snout up against a vertical surface with the mouth closed
and the fish laying along a tape measure, then pinch the tail
fin closed and determine the total length. Do NOT pull a
flexible tape measure along the curve of the fish. The photo to
the right shows a bass on a measuring board with the mouth held
shut. Prior to getting a final measurement the caudal (tail)
fin will be pinched shut.
TOTAL LENGTH
MEASUREMENT
"Girth" is best measured with a fabric ruler, such as tailors
use. It can also be determined by drawing a string around the
fish at its widest point marking where the string overlaps and
then measuring the distance between the overlapping points on a
conventional ruler. The measurement should be taken
perpendicular to the length of the fish. This measurement is
analogous to measuring the circumference of someone's waist.
Knowing the girth is important when trying to certify a fish for
a record, and provides useful information to biologists about
the relative condition of a fish.
GIRTH
MEASUREMENT
Using total length and girth you can get a rough estimate of a
fish's weight using various
formulas. Please remember that if you are going to release
your catch, it is very important the fish be properly handled
and released as quickly as possible. See
here
for live-release guidelines. Also don't forget if you catch a
quality-sized fish that you can receive a free
angler-recognition certificate and sticker from the "Big
Catch" program.
(Note: Marine
[saltwater]
fishes are sometimes measured using other techniques that are
also used by freshwater fisheries scientists. Click
here
to see other ways of measuring fish) |
|
