How to Identify Saltwater Fish in Florida
- 1). Reel your fish in and transfer your rod to your less dominant hand when the fish is close to your body.
- 2). Dip your landing net into the water and place it around your fish; use your dominant hand.
- 3). Consider the size and length of the fish. Bonefish, bluefish, shad and many species of pompano average two to four pounds, most grouper are 8 to 10 pounds, and cobia and greater amberjack will be in the 25 to 40 pound range. Cobia are long and slim, grouper are short and stout and pompano are flat bodied.
- 4). Consider the fish's fins. The caudal (tail) fins of many fish are fork-shaped with pointed tips, however grouper feature one broad caudal fin. The edges of a bonefish's dorsal and caudal fins are shaded black; a cobia's dorsal fins feature seven to nine free spines; a bluefish's dorsal and anal fins are similar in size; and Florida pompano have 22 to 27 dorsal rays and 20 to 23 anal rays.
- 5). Consider distinguishing features. Cobia typically have a long dark stripe running along their sides from their eyes to their tail; greater amberjack have a dark strip running from their nose to just in front of their tail. Bluefish have prominent little teeth. In dark waters, Florida Pompano will have gold on their throat, pelvic and anal fins. American shad will have one or more dark spots in a row behind their gill covers (operculum). American shad also have a "lower jaw with a pointed tip that fits into a v-shaped notch in their upper jaw," according to Indian River County, which differentiates them from other shad.
- 6). Consider your location. Bonefish inhabit the shallows of the Florida Keys and some can be found in water depths of 2 to 4 feet. You are unlikely to find any of the other fish mentioned at these depths. Cobia will be found in bays, inlets and mangroves inshore or near shore. Adult grouper will be found around offshore reefs, but you may find younger grouper inshore around docks and rock piles. Pompano can be found inshore and near shore in southern Florida, while American shad and greater amberjack typically stick to cooler waters offshore.
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