How to Identify Florida Freshwater Fish
- 1). Make note of any color or patterns on the fish. Many fish, such as the largemouth bass, have a distinctive stripe going down the middle of its sides.
- 2). Make note of any unusual physical features, such as suckers or whiskers. The appropriately named flathead catfish has an almost neanderthal quality to its sloping head, making it an easy identifier.
- 3). Measure a fish. If you've caught the fish, measure it from mouth to tail, around the widest part of its body, and from dorsal fin to tail.
- 4). Take a photo of the fish. If you haven't caught the fish, try to take a photo with something in the frame that will give you an idea of the fish's relative size.
- 5). Consult the paper field guide or use an online fish finder tool. Audubon or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are trustworthy sources. Match the fish you caught or want to identify with the fish displayed in the field guide.
Source...