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Tripletail

Tripletail

Lobotes surinamensis
Eddy Fish

Life History

Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: The dorsal, caudal, and anal fins are set closely together, making it look as if this fish has three tails. It is usually mottled shades of brown and has a concave head and small looking mouth.

Size: A maximum length of around 45”and averages from 2-12 pounds.

Age at Maturity: 7-13 years old

Range: May be found at sea as far north as Massachusetts but inshore around Florida.

Habitat: Drifts with the ocean currents and might be found anywhere along the Atlantic Coast, usually around weedlines or alongside floating debris, lying on their sides and resembling floating leaves. In Florida, and occasionally in other South Atlantic waters, they can also be found close to shore or even in large bays, usually hanging around navigation markers or trap floats.

Angling Information

Bait and Tackle: Among the best natural baits are live fish or shrimp. Cut baits and dead shrimp can also work. Spinning and baitcasting tackle work the best but saltwater gear also can be used. Fly fishing is also a possibility. Jigs, plugs, and streamer flies work well for artificial lures.

Fishing Method: Drifting, casting, still fishing

Food Value: Excellent

State Regulation

Daily Limit: 2

Minimum size: 18″ TL

Federal Regulation

No Federal Regulation

Tarpon

Tarpon

Megalops atlanticus
Silver King

Life History

Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Bright silvery sides with dark green or brown along dorsal side. Only has one dorsal fin, with a lone streamer coming off the last ray. Has huge scales and a large upward facing mouth.

Size:Normally can range from 40-280 pounds with females being larger than males. Maximum length of 100 inches.

Age at Maturity: 7-13 years old

Range:Florida to Long Island, straggling to New England

Habitat:Live in coastal waters in estuaries, bays, mangrove-lined lagoons, and rivers. Can be found in fresh water or oxygen-poor waters.

Angling Information

Bait and Tackle: Large variety in fish sizes so a wide variety of tackle can be used, from light saltwater to stout. Fly-fishing can also be used. Live baits such as Mullet, Menhaden, Pinfish, Spot or even crabs can be used.

Fishing Method: Still fishing, casting, drifting, trolling

Food Value:None

State Regulation

Daily Limit: 1 (no sale)

Minimum size: 68″ FL

Summer Flounder

Summer Flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

Life History

Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Left-eyed, generally olive to brown in coloration depending on their surroundings. Eye-like spots (ocelli) liberally sprinkled over specimen and there will always be five or more, unlike the Gulf Flounder which always has three.

Size:Males at 1 year (9.8”) and females at 1½ (11”)*.

Range:From Maine to North Florida, where it is rare.

Habitat:Likes sandy or muddy bottom for burrowing with grassy cover nearby. Found in marshes and estuaries but can also be found offshore.

Angling Information

Bait and Tackle: Spinning, baitcasting, and light saltwater tackle all work well. The best baits are often small baitfish such as Finger Mullet but you can also use shrimp, squid, crabs or other cut bait. Jigs also work.

Fishing Method: Casting, drift, still fishing

Food Value:Excellent

State Regulation

Daily Limit: 15

Minimum size: 12″ TL

Federal Regulation

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Spotted Seatrout

Spotted Seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

Life History

Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Dark gray or green on top and lightening to silvery on the sides and bottom, numerous black spots along back and tail. Has prominent canine teeth at the front of the mouth on the tip of the upper jaw.

Size:Can be 40 inches. Commonly around 6 pounds but can get up or over 10.

Age at Maturity: Matures within the first or second year.

Range:From New Jersey to the Florida Keys, straggling up to Long Island Sound.

Habitat:Hangs around grassy or shell-strewn flats, in marshy areas and estuaries. Can also be found in rivers and along beaches. They seek deeper water during cold weather.

Angling Information

Bait and Tackle: Spinning and baitcasting tackle work well as well as fly. Any kind of cut fish or squid will work for bait as well as live or dead shrimp, or small fish. Plastic lures and jigs will also be taken

Food Value:Very good

State Regulation

Daily Limit: 15

Minimum size: 14″ TL

Federal Regulation

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Spot

Spot

Leiostomus xanthurus

Life History

Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Has a forked tail and dark spot directly behind the gill cover. Yellow-brown on top with white underbelly and darker wavy lines on dorsal surface.

Size:Can get up to 15 inches (TL), seldom more than one pound.

Range:From South Florida to southern New England.

Habitat:Close to shore in surf, bays, or estuaries along sandy or muddy bottoms.

Angling Information

Bait and Tackle:Can be easily taken on most kinds of rod and reel with light tackle. Bait such as shrimp, squid, cut fish, and marine worms or even meat table scraps work well.

Food Value:Excellent pan fish

State Regulation

Daily Limit: 25

Minimum size: No Minimum Size

Federal Regulation

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Southern Kingfish

Southern Kingfish

Menticirrhus americanus
Whiting

Life History

Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Large head in proportion to its body and has barbels on chin. It has a flat belly and yellowish color on top with silvery sides. Also has darker indistinct blotches along its sides.

Size: Maximum length of around 20 inches (TL). Usually less than a pound, can be up to 2 pounds.

Range: From New England to South Florida

Habitat: Areas with a sandy bottom, found in the surf, juveniles found in estuaries with brackish or very low salinity waters.

Angling Information

Fishing Method: Small crabs, sand fleas, shrimp or squid all work well as do jigs or flies.

Food Value: Good meat but bland

State Regulation

Daily Limit: No Limit

Minimum size: No Minimum Size

Federal Regulation

No Federal Regulation

Southern Flounder

Southern Flounder

Paralichthys lethostigma

Life History

Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Left-eyed. Generally brown but the color can vary widely depending on the color of the bottom where the fish hides. It is missing the prominent eye-like spots (ocelli) seen on the Summer and Gulf Flounders.

Size:Averages 2-4 pounds

Range:North Carolina to South Florida

Habitat:Generally likes fairly shallow areas with soft bottoms and near rocky structures such as bridges. Have been found in fresh water.

Angling Information

Bait and Tackle:Light spinning and baitcasting tackle works well. They will take live or dead shrimp, or squid or other cut baits.

Fishing Method:Casting, drifting, still fishing

Food Value:One of the best

State Regulation

Daily Limit: 15

Minimum size: 12″ TL

Federal Regulation

No Federal Regulation

Sheepshead

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus
Convict Fish

Life History

Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Five to seven dark bars or stripes over a dull white, gray or yellowish background. They have large protruding teeth with incisors and molars for crushing shellfish or urchins. These teeth help distinguish Sheepshead from juvenile Black Drum. Sheepshead also do not have barbels under their chins.

Size: Common around 7 pounds but can easily be found up to 10 pounds.

Age at Maturity:
Around 30 inches (3-4 years old)

Range: Florida to New York, as far north as Nova Scotia

Habitat: Mainly stays inshore, going into brackish and even fresh waters. Prefers rocky areas or docks, bridge pilings or artificial reefs or other areas with barnacles.

Angling Information

Bait and Tackle : Any kind of crab whether alive or dead, shrimp, oysters, clams, or marine worms. Spinning and baitcasting tackle work well as well as light saltwater boat rods.

Fishing Method: still fishing

Food Value: Excellent

State Regulation

Daily Limit: 15

Minimum size: 10″ FL

Federal Regulation

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Red Drum

Red Drum

Sciaenops ocellatus
Redfish, Channel Bass, Spot Tail, Puppy Drum

Life History

Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Iridescent silver-gray with bronze overtones. They will have one or more large spots near the base of the caudal fin. Unlike others in the drum family, reds do not have barbels under their chins.

Size: Average 15 to 20 pounds

Age at Maturity:
Around 30 inches (3-4 years old)

Range: The Florida Keys to Long Island, can be found as far north as New England

Habitat: Juveniles stay inshore in estuaries and other shallow areas. At maturity they will move farther away from shore but can still be found near the surf during certain times of the year.

Angling Information

Bait and Tackle : Any kind of casting tackle works well for catching fish of all sizes, but mostly smaller fish (under 20 pounds). They also like live baitfish, shrimp, crabs or squid or dead or cut baits.

Fishing Method: Casting, drifting, still fishing

Food Value: Delicious under 10 pounds, larger fish are not very good

State Regulation

Daily Limit: 5

Minimum size: 14″-23″ TL

Federal Regulation

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Florida Pompano

Florida Pompano

Trachinotus carolinus
Carolina Pompano

Life History

Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Greenish gray on top with silvery sides, yellow gold on throat and undersides. Dorsal fin is dark but other fins are yellow. Has a deep flattened body with a small mouth.

Size: Around 2 pounds

Age at Maturity:
Protogynous hermaphrodites, that is, they change sex with size. Mature female: around 7.5 inches, males: around 9 inches.

Range: Common in Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. Can be found as far north as Cape Cod

Habitat: Found in surf and along sandy beaches, also in bays and estuaries. They also like deeper inshore waters along sandbars and grass flats.

Angling Information

Bait and Tackle : Spinning, baitcasting and even fly lures work well in surf and off piers. Will eat live sand fleas (sand crabs), shrimp or fiddler crabs. They will sometimes take dead sand fleas, shrimp, clams or squid. They also like small jigs or lures.

Fishing Method: Casting, drifting, still fishing

Food Value: Very good with rich, firm, white flesh

Black Drum

Black Drum

Pogonias cromis
Drum, Striped Drum

Life History

Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: High arched back; 10 to 14 pairs of chin barbels; deep bronze or dusky black colored body in adults; juveniles have 4 to 6 vertical black stripes on dusky white background; has cobblestone-like teeth capable of crushing oysters; scales are large.

Size: Commonly around 30 pounds

Age at Maturity

Range:New York down to the Florida Keys, sometimes found as far north as Maine.

Habitat:Inshore fish, common to bays and lagoons; bottom dweller often found around oyster beds. Found usually over sand and sandy mud bottoms in coastal waters, especially in areas with large river runoffs. Juveniles often enter estuaries. Adults also found offshore.

Angling Information

Bait and Tackle:Saltwater boat rods usually used but a lighter rod can also be used with experience. Small whole crabs or pieces of larger crabs, shrimp, fish or squid all make good bait. Artificial lures are not likely to work inshore.

Fishing Method:Still fishing, casting

Food Value: Smaller fish (under 8 pounds) are tasty, but larger fish become rough and unappetizing.

State Regulation

Daily Limit: 15

Minimum size: 14″ TL

Federal Regulation:

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Atlantic Croaker

Atlantic Croaker

Micropogonias undulatus
Croaker

Life History

Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Inferior mouth; small barbels on chin; silver-gray or bronze body with dark vertical wavy bars or lines on upper sides; iridescent especially on head; preopercle strongly serrated.

Size: Usually less than 2 pounds

Age at Maturity:
2-3 years

Range: From South Florida to Massachusetts and in the Gulf of Mexico.

Habitat: Young fish found in estuaries, usually over mud or sandy bottoms; older fish (2 to 3 years) inhabit deep offshore waters during the winter months and move into bays and estuaries during the spring, summer and fall.

Angling Information

Bait and Tackle: Light tackle spinning or baitcasters will work well. Any bait including shrimp, squid, cut up fish pieces, or crab.

Fishing Method: Bottom fishing

Food Value: Excellent. Make great pan fish.

State Regulation

Daily Limit: 25

Minimum size: No Minimum Size

Season: All Year

Federal Regulation

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Black Sea Bass

Black Sea Bass

Centropristis striata
Blackfish, Greenhead

Life History

Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Dark brown to black with only slightly lighter belly in adults. Males may have iridescent blue markings during the breeding season and have a large fatty hump in front of the dorsal fin. Stripes or white spots may be seen on the dorsal fin and the caudal fin may be tri-lobed. The topmost ray of the caudal fin will be greatly elongated in adults.

Size: Commonly less than 2 pounds

Age at Maturity:
Protogynous hermaphrodites, that is, they change sex with size. Mature female: around 7.5 inches, males: around 9 inches.

Range: Central Florida to Cape Cod, can be found as far north as Nova Scotia

Habitat: Rocky areas, wrecks, reefs, channels with hard bottoms, jetties, and deep holes in grass flats. Larger fish prefer offshore.

Angling Information

Bait and Tackle :Light tackle such as spinning or baitcasters work well. They will eat live or dead shrimp, squid, seaworms, fish, or any cut baits. They will also go for artificial jigs.

Fishing Method: Drifting, trolling, still fishing, casting

Food Value: Excellent. Mild, white meat.

State Regulation

Daily Limit: 15

Minimum size: 12″ TL

Federal Regulation

Click Here

 

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