tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45927050460666966682024-03-05T09:46:07.556-08:00Fish IdentificationFish Indentification is All About Plenty of Fish identification and FishingFitrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155057502034203384noreply@blogger.comBlogger429125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-70594160726334801642020-06-04T17:13:00.000-07:002020-06-04T17:13:00.304-07:00Atlantic Guitarfish (Rhinobatos lentiginosus)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt= A cross between a skate and a shark in appearance Atlantic Guitarfish (Rhinobatos lentiginosus) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-U9UntUF884ZYHoveVox8dSl-dFTChRIbkGeaTnBp7nBCjdxQ6jc_NwExPK7Bh20FkSsc4uvWHxoSaKCsuAvQCFg_r9uC18uelFY5pm18UgymIScLs0OLnHK_xvYNPvlfc4LJo8YCos/s1600/guitarfish-atlantic.jpg" title=Atlantic Guitarfish (Rhinobatos lentiginosus) /></a></div> <br /> A cross between a skate and a shark in appearance, the Atlantic guitarfish is a member of the Rajiformes family, along with the skate and the ray. It is occasionally encountered by anglers but is not a targeted species.<br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> The head and the pectoral fins of the Atlantic guitarfish form a triangular disk at the front of the body. The rear of the body is thick and tapered like a shark’s, and it has two large dorsal fins and a well-developed caudal fin. The Atlantic guitarfish varies in color from gray to brown, with several pale spots on its body.<br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a><h2> Size</h2> This species is normally 1 to 2 feet long and can attain a maximum length of 2.5 feet. Females are somewhat larger than males.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ready-Fish-Surf-Pier-Combo/dp/B00BPF2WAA/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=41%2BtBgJJOIL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0RD283G2HMNQT8Q6RAP8&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=9e1079592eb04345e6db5a89fa3cab33" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00BPF2WAA&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= A cross between a skate and a shark in appearance Atlantic Guitarfish (Rhinobatos lentiginosus) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B00BPF2WAA" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Saltwater-Anglers-Southern-California-Flyfishers-ebook/dp/B005DNQ87I/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&keywords=Guitarfish&qid=1462717016&ref_=sr_1_8&s=books&sr=1-8&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=54a9a6f05293b3a985d02b41beb61548" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B005DNQ87I&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= A cross between a skate and a shark in appearance Atlantic Guitarfish (Rhinobatos lentiginosus) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B005DNQ87I" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Life history</h2> Atlantic guitarfish are ovoviviparous, which means they bear live young, with up to six in a litter. At birth they are 20 centimeters long.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food</h2> Small mollusks and crustaceans form the diet of the guitarfish.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> French: poisson-guitarre tacheté; Italian: pesce violino; Spanish: guitarra.<br /> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> Atlantic guitarfish extend from North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico, although they are not reported in the Bahamas or the Caribbean and are uncommon in Florida and the Yucatán. The Brazilian guitarfish (R. horkeli) and the southern guitarfish (R. percellens) are two closely related species that range from the West Indies to Brazil.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> Inhabiting sandy and weedy bottoms, Atlantic guitarfish are found near small reefs, usually buried in seagrass, sand, or mud at depths of 1 to 45 feet.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-23126380004759192222020-05-25T17:13:00.000-07:002020-05-25T17:13:01.745-07:00White Grunt (Haemulon plumieri)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt= This and other grunts often make up the largest biomass on reefs in continental shelf are White Grunt (Haemulon plumieri) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyM8lR0QUO5ytdhuC2ct5aeL80kWT3aamdgjxEC_xf-5dq4yG_KzcF74xHSEcPGPNbebDXR26hemXk_W0cOw7tG389t_FyZ4SXoZKltFTThrMR8h6uIJ7fsudr_7DSKC5u7rp0BtYxBPw/s1600/grunt-white.jpg" title=White Grunt (Haemulon plumieri) /></a></div> <br /> The white grunt is a wide-ranging and abundant fish. This and other grunts often make up the largest biomass on reefs in continental shelf areas. The white grunt has some commercial value, as it grows to larger sizes than do most other grunts, and it is a tasty panfish that is also commonly used in aquariums.<br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> One of the more colorful grunts, this fish has a silver-gray body, with moderate yellow body striping and numerous blue and yellow stripes on its head. The scales may be tipped with bronze and produce a checkered pattern. The inside of the mouth is red. It has 12 dorsal spines and 15 to 17 dorsal rays, 8 to 9 anal rays, and 17 pectoral rays.<br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a><h2> Age/Size</h2> The average length and weight are 8 to 14 inches and about a pound, although white grunts can reach 25 inches and weigh 8 pounds. They are reported to live up to 13 years.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Catch-More-Fish-Tackle/dp/B00AN0SB30/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&refRID=0EA7AWE96944WJR2QJZM&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=16f03edc50ef7367322fe53e94b24bc6" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00AN0SB30&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= This and other grunts often make up the largest biomass on reefs in continental shelf are White Grunt (Haemulon plumieri) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B00AN0SB30" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Run-Anglers-Journey-Striper-Coast/dp/0060087463/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=51wT0h40VGL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR106%2C160_&refRID=1DEVGH0H9QV9HT00KYQQ&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=91f8156c4b95e56fcd4676944a830559" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0060087463&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= This and other grunts often make up the largest biomass on reefs in continental shelf are White Grunt (Haemulon plumieri) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=0060087463" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Life history/Behavior</h2> Like other grunts, this species is a schooling fish, often found in large groups. Schools travel in shadows during the day and are often located along the edges of reefs and at the base of coral formations. Fish are sexually mature at about 10 inches, and spawning takes place in the southeastern United States in the late spring and the summer.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food and feeding habits</h2> White grunts are bottom feeders that root in the sand and the bottom matter near reefs. They feed on worms, shrimp, crabs, mollusks, and small fish.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> redmouth; Spanish: ronco margariteño.<br /> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> The white grunt exists in the western Atlantic, from the Chesapeake Bay throughout the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico south to Brazil. It was reportedly introduced unsuccessfully to Bermuda.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> White grunts prefer shallower water from nearshore to outer reef areas.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-39356947491125521082020-05-10T17:13:00.000-07:002020-05-10T17:13:04.907-07:00California Grunion (Leuresthes tenuis)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt= The California grunion is a member of the Atherinidae family of fish known as silversides California Grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2H48zZx9yH23TdI2psgERVYhExb1rZpyQx3syEvYtYzk5pNHs3p3jEAS3U7nslq1dUPbhRKFNefKkiQrs6tHPtKxXEw_a7nq5-PGbgcjGqK9GknGxRmuLZn8L5UH8hDe5ZSDIBkmhyz0/s1600/grunion-california.jpg" title=California Grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) /></a></div> <br /> The California grunion is a member of the Atherinidae family of fish known as silversides. It is an important forage species for predator fish; in season, large numbers of anglers gather on the beaches to fill buckets with grunion that are undergoing a remarkable spawning ritual in the sand.<br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> The California grunion has an elongate body and head that are more or less compressed. The mouth is small, and the scales are small, smooth, and firm. Its coloration is bluish-green above and silvery below; a bright silvery band tinged with blue and bordered above with violet extends the length of the body.<br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a><h2> Size/Age</h2> The maximum known size of grunion is 7.5 inches. The life span is usually 3 years, with some individuals surviving 4 years.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/South-Bend-KIT-50-Hurricane-Saltwater/dp/B0010FV2LK/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&refRID=17EQV8TDVGVG0H7W1HDJ&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=07fa850f5b1675fe17c9f908f57a2e18" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0010FV2LK&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The California grunion is a member of the Atherinidae family of fish known as silversides California Grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B0010FV2LK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Notleys-Ultimate-Guide-Saltwater-Fishing/dp/1571884823/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=5112whgRbnL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL320_SR208%2C320_&refRID=0MG1CZRD720P1RMH9F9B&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=170825d2a3ffc85be6afd942c6361c4b" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1571884823&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The California grunion is a member of the Atherinidae family of fish known as silversides California Grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1571884823" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Life history/Behavior</h2> The most rapid growth takes place during the first year, at the end of which they are 5 inches long and capable of spawning. The spawning behavior of grunion is one of the more unusual among all marine fish. Females, accompanied by one to eight males, swim onto the beach with an incoming wave, dig themselves into the sand up to their pectoral fins, and lay their eggs. <br /> <br /> The males wrap themselves around the female and fertilize the eggs. With the next wave, the fish return to the sea. Thus, the spawning process is effected in the short period of time between waves. Most females spawn from four to eight times a year, and thousands of the fish may be along the beach at a time.<br /> <br /> Spawning takes place from early March through September and then only for 3 or 4 nights following the full moon, during the 1 to 4 hours immediately after high tide.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food</h2> The feeding habits of this species are not well known; however, they subsist on small crustaceans and fish eggs.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> smelt, little smelt, grunion, lease smelt.<br /> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> The California grunion occurs from Magdalena Bay, Baja California, to San Francisco; however, the principal range is between Point Abreojos, Baja California, and Point Conception, California. A similar species, the gulf grunion (L. sardina), is restricted to the Gulf of California.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> California grunion are nonmigratory and are most often found in schools a short distance from shore in water 15 to 40 feet deep.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-1918944002118908782020-04-25T17:13:00.000-07:002020-04-25T17:13:00.327-07:00Red Grouper (Epinephelus morio)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt= The red grouper was one of the most abundant grouper in the Caribbean and surrounding wat Red Grouper (Epinephelus morio) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlgJdX9C7fINsVvrA4EFO_F3ybrt7cNjwo7TMa7fHPZUYuT_fN0eBOx1HxrK8BtW05SVZldpKj4AFTRUOOEiCAcbm_YVQOT9nnPVUFTvpGCLK30U3lD5u2iXas1jcRE-rL53HN5kuvVQ/s1600/grouper-red.jpg" title=Red Grouper (Epinephelus morio) /></a></div> <br /> The red grouper was one of the most abundant grouper in the Caribbean and surrounding waters until spearfishing and general overfishing depleted its numbers.<br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> Of varying coloration, the red grouper is usually dark brownish-red, especially around the mouth, and may have dark bars and blotches similar to those on the Nassau grouper, as well as a few small whitish blotches scattered in an irregular pattern. It is distinguished from the Nassau grouper by its lack of a saddle spot and its smooth, straight front dorsal fin. <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a>On the Nassau grouper the dorsal fin is notched. It has a blackish tinge to the soft dorsal, the anal, and the tail fins; pale bluish margins on the rear dorsal, the anal, and the tail fins; and small black spots around the eyes. The lining of the mouth is scarlet to orange. The second spine of the dorsal fin is longer than the others, the pectoral fins are longer than the pelvic fins, and the tail is distinctively squared off.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fiblink-Graphite-Baitcasting-Portable-Baitcaster/dp/B019GPVT4U/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=31vuBnuuo5L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=114RFN3RMJZJFXF6Z6BC&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=4b337d21eb626567693424dcc8faf6b1" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B019GPVT4U&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The red grouper was one of the most abundant grouper in the Caribbean and surrounding wat Red Grouper (Epinephelus morio) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B019GPVT4U" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fishing-Guide-Fresh-Salt-Water/dp/1582381410/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1462714601&sr=1-41&keywords=Grouper+fish&linkCode=li2&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=75e514ae30dd0401f4aed88c7c419ef0" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1582381410&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The red grouper was one of the most abundant grouper in the Caribbean and surrounding wat Red Grouper (Epinephelus morio) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li2&o=1&a=1582381410" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Size/Age</h2> The red grouper is commonly 1 to 2 feet long and weighs up to 15 pounds, although it can reach 3.5 feet and 50 pounds. The male red grouper lives longer than the female does and has been known to live for 25 years.<br /> <br /> <h2> Spawning behavior</h2> Like many other grouper, red grouper undergo a sex reversal; females transform into males, in this case between ages 7 and 14, or when they are 18 to 26 inches long. Spawning takes place from March through July, with a flurry of activity in April and May, in water temperatures ranging from 63° to 77°F and in depths between 80 and 300 feet.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food and feeding habits</h2> Red grouper feed on a wide variety of fish, invertebrates, and crustaceans, including squid, crabs, shrimp, lobsters, and octopus.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> grouper; Portuguese: garoupa de Sao Tomé; Spanish: cherna americana, cherna de vivero, mero americano, mero paracamo.<br /> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> In the western Atlantic, red grouper range from North Carolina to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda; some fish stray as far as Massachusetts. They are found only occasionally in Florida and the Bahamas and rarely in the Caribbean.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> Red grouper are bottom-dwelling fish, occurring over rocky and muddy bottoms, at the margins of seagrass beds, and in ledges, crevices, and caverns of rocky limestone reefs; they are uncommon around coral reefs. They prefer depths of 6 to 400 feet, although they more commonly hold between 80 and 400 feet. Red grouper are usually solitary, resting on the bottom and blending with their surroundings.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-48832683126730502012020-04-15T17:13:00.000-07:002020-04-15T17:13:00.886-07:00Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt= The largest grouper and a member of the Serranidae family Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXLZQsvPJ-JDXz22ZYef90Nswt37T0JEWhKOe3GqwmOl6HG8ZjckKZIaZtTbtcUOoCAdG_evQCrLRSs6QyhqcM4yHcnE3XNaJcO-4VcQdJO4FhrzQKKged13N7JXSk6mqH7KCFlwsN-8/s1600/grouper-goliath.jpg" title=Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara) /></a></div> <br /> The largest grouper and a member of the Serranidae family, the goliath grouper is an important gamefish and an excellent food fish.<br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> The goliath grouper is yellowish-brown to olive green or brown. Dark brown blotches and blackish spots mottle the entire body, including the head and the fins; these markings are variable and are more prominent on the young. Irregular dark bands run vertically along the sides, although these are usually obscure. <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a>The body becomes darker with age, as the blotches and spots increase and become less noticeable in contrast to the body. The first dorsal fin is shorter than, and not separated from, the second dorsal fin. The goliath grouper is differentiated from the giant sea bass by its dorsal fin soft rays, of which it has 15 to 16; the giant sea bass has only 10.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LGXNUW/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=d8a9b64855c29528c37bfa08ab323f33" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B000LGXNUW&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The largest grouper and a member of the Serranidae family Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B000LGXNUW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Groupers-World-Field-Market-Guide/dp/1466506024/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1462713822&sr=1-6&keywords=Grouper+fish&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=acfa0d29c63cb617b809211a51d40c3b" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1466506024&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The largest grouper and a member of the Serranidae family Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1466506024" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> Distinctive features also include very small eyes, a rounded tail fin, and large rounded pectoral fins. Specimens smaller than 11⁄2 feet long bear a strong resemblance to spotted cabrilla but can be distinguished by the number of dorsal spines, of which the goliath grouper has 11 and the spotted cabrilla 10.<br /> <br /> <h2> Size/Age</h2> Goliath grouper can reach 8 feet in length and 700 pounds in weight. Although the average fish weighs roughly 20 pounds, weights of 100 pounds are not unusual, nor are 4- to 6-foot lengths. The all-tackle world record is a 680-pounder. They have been known to live for 30 to 50 years.<br /> <br /> <h2> Life history/Behavior</h2> There is some indication that the goliath grouper starts out as a female and undergoes a sex change later in life, as occurs in certain grouper. Spawning takes place over the summer months.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food and feeding habits</h2> A sluggish but opportunistic feeder, the goliath grouper feeds chiefly on crustaceans, especially spiny lobsters, as well as on turtles, fish, and stingrays.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> jewfish, spotted jewfish, southern jewfish, junefish, Florida jewfish, esonue grouper; Fon (spoken in Benin): tokokogbo; French: mérou géant; Portuguese: garoupa, mero; Spanish: cherna, cherne, mero, guasa, meroguasa.<br /> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> In the western Atlantic, goliath grouper occur from Florida to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, although they are rare in Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. In the eastern Pacific, goliath grouper occur from the central Gulf of California to Peru.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> Goliath grouper inhabit inshore waters and are usually found in shallow water at depths between 10 and 100 feet. They prefer rocky bottoms, reefs, ledges, dock and bridge pilings, and wrecks, where they can find refuge in caves and holes.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-85880110984473626112020-04-10T17:13:00.000-07:002020-04-10T17:13:00.393-07:00Black Grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt= The black grouper is a fairly large and hard Black Grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3PDr6GkcDxJBSkbPGacuwd4J3G2UX8HM46xgBY4AVuX9QAr09nMMdS9jazHzn3v0gnWXKoxxQ5Kjq9QTEfUb9-6sqrroAIQZGOTa7fgmJ5Ha1ZIHD_qIaf-yUX22gw_6dcjx-w-3q_w/s1600/grouper-black.jpg" title=Black Grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) /></a></div> <br /> The black grouper is a fairly large and hard-fighting member of the Serranidae family. It is an excellent food fish, although the flesh is occasionally toxic and can cause ciguatera.<br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> Depending on location, the black grouper may be olive, gray, or reddish-brown to black. It has black, almost rectangular blotches and brassy spots. It can pale or darken until its markings are hardly noticeable. <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a>It has a thin, pale border on its pectoral fins, a wide black edge and a thin white margin on its tail, and sometimes a narrow orangish edge to the pectoral fin; the tips of the tail and the soft dorsal and anal fins are bluish or black. The black grouper has a squared-off tail and a gently rounded gill cover.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SEQ5LHE/ref=as_li_ss_il?psc=1&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=d6a3ef06e67e00b8e35383d1801bb4b5" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00SEQ5LHE&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The black grouper is a fairly large and hard Black Grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B00SEQ5LHE" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sportsmans-Best-Snapper-Grouper-Combo/dp/0936240318/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1462713822&sr=1-1&keywords=Grouper+fish&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=7e39147eb07f5de9b7cae4b2c52124d9" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0936240318&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The black grouper is a fairly large and hard Black Grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=0936240318" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Size</h2> Regularly reaching 40 pounds, black grouper can grow to more than 100 pounds; the all-tackle world record is shared by two 114-pound fish, one from Texas and the other from Florida. The average length of the black grouper is 1.5 to 3 feet; the maximum is 4 feet.<br /> <br /> <h2> Life history/Behavior</h2> Black grouper spawn between May and August. As in many species of grouper, the young start out predominantly female, transforming into males as they grow larger.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food and feeding habits</h2> Adult black grouper feed mainly on fish and sometimes squid, and juveniles feed mainly on crustaceans.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> rockfish; Portuguese: badejo-ferro, badejoquadrado; Spanish: bonaci, cuna bonací, cuna guarei.<br /> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> Black grouper occur from Bermuda and Massachusetts to southern Brazil, including the southern Gulf of Mexico, and occur commonly to occasionally in the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, and Cuba and throughout the Caribbean. Adults are unknown on the northeastern coast of the United States.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> Black grouper are found away from shore, near rocky and coral reefs and dropoff walls in water more than 60 feet deep. Although black grouper typically drift just above the bottom, young fish may inhabit shallow water inshore, and adults occasionally frequent open water far above reefs.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-51018698254503138802020-04-05T17:13:00.000-07:002020-04-05T17:13:00.706-07:00Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v6WxRHMYYRAEI_pQD1tZPLJF3Xeyo6hpmgXXik9hgCRCuUov1XdVtnQgX7oUnTGyG7d1W3SH4f8o-yTaUzuuKF6FbAAGpkPQZxV8FDnwGDxoKvry5i9ZFkSa6JCYy3UOrk-NxRSnP0g/s1600/graysby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt= Graysby are commonly caught on hook and line Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v6WxRHMYYRAEI_pQD1tZPLJF3Xeyo6hpmgXXik9hgCRCuUov1XdVtnQgX7oUnTGyG7d1W3SH4f8o-yTaUzuuKF6FbAAGpkPQZxV8FDnwGDxoKvry5i9ZFkSa6JCYy3UOrk-NxRSnP0g/s1600/graysby.jpg" title=Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata) /></a></div> <br /> A member of the grouper/seabass family, the graysby is a small, secretive reef fish. Graysby are commonly caught on hook and line, but their small size precludes them from being particularly sought after.<br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> Varying from pale gray to dark brown, the graysby has many darker orangish, red-brown spots on its body, fins, and chin. There are three to five distinctive marks, like pale or dark spots, that run along the base of the dorsal fin. A white line runs between the eyes from the nape to the lower lip. <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a>The spots change color, either growing pale or darkening in contrast with the body. The tail of the graysby is more rounded than it is in similar species. There are 9 spines and 14 rays in the soft dorsal fin, compared to 15 to 17 rays in the closely related coney.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015NW52UW/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=50334ac283aa6707f0de485bdee6826e" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B015NW52UW&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= Graysby are commonly caught on hook and line Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B015NW52UW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1438260830/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=5d19847f4e42fe7846a76bfcd877a37d" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1438260830&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= Graysby are commonly caught on hook and line Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1438260830" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Size</h2> The graysby generally grows to a length of 6 to 10 inches and can reach a maximum of 1 foot.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food</h2> Graysby are nocturnal predators, feeding mainly on fish.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> Spanish: enjambre, cherna enjambre, cuna cabrilla.<br /> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> Graysby range from North Carolina to the northern Gulf of Mexico and south to Brazil. They are common in southern Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean and are also found in Bermuda.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> Small ledges and caves in coral beds and reefs are the preferred haunts of graysby, where they blend with the surroundings at depths between 10 and 60 feet.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-45508603880116022852020-03-31T17:13:00.000-07:002020-03-31T17:13:02.171-07:00Goosefish<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt=sh has been described as mostly mouth with a tail attached Goosefish border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKlojU28Dn9EKjoEyILKoothNQRumJ953a49yO6vBmzGAIooRYMTMTwFTombCVyoqV0auaTVWwO1yYm9p3xW0xyyJc-xtbMbGkdzWpoHMVMf5QKhL0ivmJ2HRQThsqvS1k8AoM9287SE/s1600/goosefish.jpg" title=Goosefish /></a></div> <br /> The goosefish has been described as mostly mouth with a tail attached. A member of the Lophiidae family of deep-sea anglerfish, this ugly, bottom-dwelling species of temperate waters is not a targeted gamefish but is occasionally caught by deep-water bottom anglers. More than two dozen species of anglerfish exist worldwide, with the American goosefish the largest among them.<br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> The American goosefish is dark brown, with a mottling of dark spots and blotches. It has almost armlike pectoral fins located about midway in its greatly flattened body. Small gill openings are just behind them. The head is extremely large for its body size, and the mouth is cavernous, filled with sharp, curved teeth and opening upward. <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a>On the tip of the first spine is a flap of flesh that serves as a lure for attracting small fish within grasping range of the mouth. If the prey comes close enough, the goosefish opens its huge mouth and sucks its victim inside.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-River-Live-Release-Net/dp/B000ZKNFXY/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=41624bUmQ4L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1PD39Q8WVWGB2QR0KR7F&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=45d9d8edce42047ecb6df2805f4662fe" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B000ZKNFXY&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt=sh has been described as mostly mouth with a tail attached Goosefish border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B000ZKNFXY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1438260830/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=7b209385441bdb48c64c99a928b8dbed" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1438260830&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt=sh has been described as mostly mouth with a tail attached Goosefish border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1438260830" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Size/Age</h2> The growth rate is fairly rapid and similar for both sexes up to about age 4, when they are approximately 19 inches long. After this, females grow a bit more rapidly and seem to live longer, about 12 years, growing to slightly more than 39 inches. Their maximum weight is 50 pounds, and the all-tackle world record is 49 pounds, 12 ounces.<br /> <br /> <h2> Spawning behavior</h2> Sexual maturity occurs between ages 3 and 4. Spawning takes place from spring through early autumn, depending on latitude. Females lay a nonadhesive, buoyant mucoid egg raft, or veil, which can be as large as 39 feet long and 5 feet wide.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food</h2> The carnivorous and rapacious goosefish eats a wide array of fish, some nearly as large as itself, as well as assorted crustaceans and squid.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> American goosefish, anglerfish, monkfish, lotte, bellyfish, frogfish, sea devil, American angler; French: baudroie d’Amerique; Spanish: rape americano.<br /> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> This species ranges from the Grand Banks and the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence south to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. A similar but smaller species, the blackfin goosefish (L. gastrophysus), occurs in deeper waters from North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico and south to Argentina.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> Individuals are found from inshore areas to depths exceeding 435 fathoms. Highest concentrations occur between 38 and 55 fathoms and in deeper water at about 100 fathoms. Seasonal migrations occur, apparently related to spawning and food availability.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-88681233479030774412020-03-06T16:13:00.000-08:002020-03-06T16:13:16.302-08:00Starry Flounder (Platichthys stellatus)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt= The starry flounder is a smaller and less common member of the Pacific coast Pleuronectid Starry Flounder (Platichthys stellatus) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFY6HPofY6liyfwqDKCYHvF4o36xZZi4htzxhVrXutXCFQLCCxsNBO5FOkoZBw3TgBBE-vcYVGJvEdRzsBx_t9ngvGUuO4pMs6e_60q5iEE0WqVWVKRCDQwRvZLWp8holiQVBOLFzd5ik/s1600/flounder-starry.jpg" title=Starry Flounder (Platichthys stellatus) /></a></div> <br /> The starry flounder is a smaller and less common member of the Pacific coast Pleuronectidae family of right-eyed flounder. Flounder and other flatfish are known for their unique appearance, having both eyes on either the left or the right side of the head, although the starry flounder can be either left-eyed or right-eyed.<br /> <br /> It is a popular sportfish because of its willingness to bite and its strong fighting qualities. Although the starry flounder has tasty flesh, it is important mainly as a sportfish, having only moderate commercial value. Processing is difficult due to its rough skin, and it must be deep-skinned to remove its unappealing, dark fat layer.<br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a><h2> Identification</h2> The starry flounder belongs to the right-eyed family of flatfish, but, as noted, it can also be left-eyed. Its head is pointed, and it has a small mouth. The anal spine is strong. The caudal fin is square or slightly rounded. Its coloring is olive to dark brown or almost black on the upper side and creamy white on the blind side. The unpaired fins, its outstanding feature, are white to yellow to orange with black bars. There are patches of rough, shiny, starlike scales scattered over the eyed side of the body, which give rise to its name.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Boomerang-BTC233-The-Snip-Braid/dp/B0091JSFSA/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=41WZjszdqjL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0ZFV5W14RGDSHX0F7CPY&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=bf9bb16c139444276f9754aacf2bc024" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0091JSFSA&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The starry flounder is a smaller and less common member of the Pacific coast Pleuronectid Starry Flounder (Platichthys stellatus) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B0091JSFSA" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Seamanship-Secrets-Techniques-Navigation-Planning-ebook/dp/B0025XHP30/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=51pLnMy3ByL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_OU01_AC_UL320_SR206%2C320_&refRID=XHQJGFR2DAQ67059180Y&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=1ae143fc24006a556ce66ab2ff70c0ef" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0025XHP30&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The starry flounder is a smaller and less common member of the Pacific coast Pleuronectid Starry Flounder (Platichthys stellatus) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B0025XHP30" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Size</h2> The average size is 12 to 14 inches, although it can grow to 3 feet and 20 pounds. Females grow faster than males and attain larger sizes.<br /> <br /> <h2> Spawning behavior</h2> Spawning occurs in the late winter and the early spring in California waters less than 25 fathoms deep.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food</h2> Adult starry flounder consume a variety of items, including crabs, clams, shrimp, and sand dollars. Large individuals also eat some fish, such as sardines, sanddabs, and surfperch.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> rough jacket, great flounder, California flounder, diamond back, emerywheel, emery flounder, grindstone, sandpaper flounder; Japanese: numagarei.<br /> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> The starry flounder ranges from central California to Alaska, and south from the Bering Sea to Japan and Korea. This is one of the most numerous fish of central Northern California backwaters, particularly in San Francisco Bay.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> It is usually found near shore over mud, sand, or gravel bottoms. Often entering brackish or fresh-water, the starry flounder is most abundant in shallow water but can be found in depths of at least 900 feet. Juveniles are often intertidal.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-71036870085271850942020-03-01T16:13:00.000-08:002020-03-01T16:13:07.437-08:00Southern Flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPl2q-wWvYGSY3QxteST4GDoNZZXwQcLMK3joNZmPmXyjjq80-lZTBcY3JBzqithSY72e8h2s7980Z1vUZrqDRxfLgImVbGk_rI2VX8x57mx3dLr-7ZiD0UF8hUWtqPwBOJAjfRHPYYD0/s1600/flounder-southern.jpg" /></a></div> <br /> The southern flounder is thought to be the largest Gulf of Mexico flatfish. A member of the Bothidae family of left-eyed flounder, it is a highly desired food fish, and considerable numbers are harvested by trawlers.<br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> The southern flounder resembles the summer flounder in appearance. Its coloring is light to dark olive-brown, and it is marked with diffused dark blotches and spots, instead of distinct ocelli (spots ringed with distinct lighter areas). These spots often disappear in large fish. <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a>The underside is white, the simple fins make an even fringe around the body, and its beady eyes are located extremely close together. It can be distinguished from the summer flounder by having fewer gill rakers and by the presence of distinct spots. It is also similar to the gulf flounder, which has no distinct ocelli.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012FGME00/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=970e75c367ba9cd65c865f3a1ffeac7f" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B012FGME00&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The southern flounder is thought to be the largest Gulf of Mexico flatfish Southern Flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B012FGME00" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ocean-Fishing-Fishermans-Mastering-Homesteading-ebook/dp/B00ZIYSOV0/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=de2b6900f71d3555d228820835551124" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00ZIYSOV0&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The southern flounder is thought to be the largest Gulf of Mexico flatfish Southern Flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B00ZIYSOV0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Size/Age</h2> Mature individuals grow to 36 inches and more than 12 pounds. The average size is 12 to 24 inches and 2 to 3 pounds. The all-tackle record is 20 pounds, 9 ounces. Southern flounder can live up to 20 years in the Gulf of Mexico.<br /> <br /> <h2> Spawning behavior</h2> Southern flounder spawn in offshore waters. In the northern Gulf of Mexico, they move out of bays and estuaries in the fall; this occurs quickly if there is an abrupt cold snap, but it happens more slowly if there is gradual cooling. Spawning occurs afterward, in the late fall and the early winter. A female typically releases several hundred thousand eggs, which hatch and migrate into the estuaries and change from upright swimmers into left-eyed bottom dwellers.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food and feeding habits</h2> The southern flounder feeds partly by burying itself in the sand and waiting to ambush its prey. Small flounder consume shrimp and other small crustaceans, whereas larger flounder eat blue crabs, shrimp, and fish such as anchovies, mullet, menhaden, Atlantic croaker, and pinfish.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> flatfish, flounder, halibut, mud flounder, plie, southern fluke; Spanish: lenguado de Floride.<br /> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> The southern flounder can be found from North Carolina to northern Mexico, although it is not present in southern Florida.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> As an estuarine-dependent bottom fish, the southern flounder commonly inhabits inshore channels, bay mouths, estuaries, and sometimes freshwater. It is tolerant of a wide range of temperatures (50° to 90°F) and is often found in waters where salinities fluctuate from 0 to 20 parts per thousand. No other flounder of the eastern United States is regularly encountered in this type of environment. Anglers regularly catch this fish inshore from bridges and jetties.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-59003414020385206512020-02-25T16:13:00.000-08:002020-02-25T16:13:00.488-08:00Gulf Flounder (Paralichthys albigutta)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPkAn1TmN_kOMKzxlM_rIJEETuZcs0WXSoutN3pSCvwPbMmJez5gsdi3XKaj8vFNph98iukztwUR5dfyuB2UYZo_39tj1IC3rvCESEK7KkNtKJSh3o5kDTEU8ONNWUfTEu__b1XEZB1o/s1600/flounder-gulf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=ounder is a member of the Bothidae family of left Gulf Flounder (Paralichthys albigutta) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPkAn1TmN_kOMKzxlM_rIJEETuZcs0WXSoutN3pSCvwPbMmJez5gsdi3XKaj8vFNph98iukztwUR5dfyuB2UYZo_39tj1IC3rvCESEK7KkNtKJSh3o5kDTEU8ONNWUfTEu__b1XEZB1o/s1600/flounder-gulf.jpg" title=Gulf Flounder (Paralichthys albigutta) /></a></div> <br /> The gulf flounder is a member of the Bothidae family of left-eyed flounder and is an excellent table fish. It is one of the smaller fish in a large group of important sport and commercial flounder. Because of its size, the gulf flounder is of minor economic significance, and it is mixed in commercial and sport catches with summer flounder and southern flounder.<br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> The gulf flounder has the familiar olive-brown background of its relatives, the summer and the southern flounder, but it has three characteristic ocellated spots forming a triangle on its eye side. One spot is above the lateral line, one below, and one on the middle, although these spots can become obscure in larger fish. <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a>Numerous white spots are scattered over the body and the fins (albigutta means “white-spotted”), and the caudal fin is in the shape of a wedge, with the tip in the middle. This species has 53 to 63 anal rays, which is fewer than the 63 to 73 found on the southern flounder. Like other flatfish, the gulf flounder can change color dramatically to match the bottom.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Silicone-Simulation-Noctilucent-Shrimp-Fishing/dp/B00M2SHXGC/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=51ns3qwJFuL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=040Y0AW6YD7THNPYK3KN&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=3f57274ab112bcc0aa12eb5a857d9b64" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00M2SHXGC&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt=ounder is a member of the Bothidae family of left Gulf Flounder (Paralichthys albigutta) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B00M2SHXGC" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chapman-Piloting-Seamanship-Small-Handling/dp/1588169618/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=51CDfxeGe4L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR122%2C160_&refRID=05ZSV4VJQF9BCR1K0DFY&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=aa5d76692f705fe7e1f4f700e335f0d1" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1588169618&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt=ounder is a member of the Bothidae family of left Gulf Flounder (Paralichthys albigutta) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1588169618" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Size/Age</h2> The average fish is under 2 pounds and between 6 and 10 inches long, although it is capable of growing to 15 inches. It is believed to live for at least 3 years. The all-tackle world-record fish is a 5-pounder, caught in Florida.<br /> <br /> <h2> Spawning</h2> Spawning season is in the winter offshore.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food</h2> The gulf flounder feeds on crustaceans and small fish.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> flounder; Spanish: lenguado tres ojos.<br /> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> The gulf flounder generally occurs in the same range as the southern flounder; it is common from Cape Lookout, North Carolina, to Corpus Christi, Texas, including southern Florida and the Bahamas.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> Gulf flounder inhabit sand, coral rubble, and seagrass areas near shore. They often range into tidal reefs and are occasionally found around nearshore rocky reefs. They commonly favor depths of up to 60 feet.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-71820558556510912822020-02-20T16:13:00.000-08:002020-02-20T16:13:44.930-08:00Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt= The eulachon is a member of the smelt family Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXgK7ommFp8ZU69jhfqXlBLsHoms5ckaG7Dto85mE61ETzvnrRJklgY8Tl10rpnQ5GlL-9RcwEOd8r_1IAAnoO_yqTfur3b_QZzNsVg4SH3jLEUbaqyqECidDu00IftMysOE4HhV1f0I/s1600/eulachon.jpg" title=Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) /></a></div> <br /> The eulachon is a member of the smelt family, Osmeridae. It is one of the largest members of this family of small Pacific coast fish and has been important to the Chinook Indians. High in oil content (15 percent of its body weight), eulachon used to be dried and fitted with wicks for use as candles.<br /> <br /> Like other smelt, the eulachon is important as forage food for Pacific salmon, as well as for marine mammals and birds. It is also harvested or caught commercially and is a highly esteemed seafood by Native Americans from California to Alaska. Although some are hard-salted, these surf smelt are too delicate to be preserved and are generally smoked.<br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a><h2> Identification</h2> The eulachon is a small slender fish, with a stubby adipose fin just in front of the tail. The lower jaw projects slightly beyond the tip of the snout. Its coloring is bluish-black on the back, fading to silvery white on the belly. Smelt are so similar in appearance that it is difficult to differentiate among species. Its larger size, however, helps distinguish the eulachon from its relatives.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CS4OMB4/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=aba35b0aaea4b873629400ed8ed68b6b" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00CS4OMB4&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The eulachon is a member of the smelt family Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B00CS4OMB4" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Waggoner-Cruising-Guide-Burrows-Associates/dp/0988287781/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=613WBswZHaL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL320_SR248%2C320_&refRID=0XCRZ24HSEMWTE7K4EMN&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=bdeed544f7db4579e875fe9ff5640d65" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0988287781&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The eulachon is a member of the smelt family Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=0988287781" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Size/Age</h2> The eulachon can reach up to 12 inches. It generally lives 2 to 3 years.<br /> <br /> <h2> Spawning behavior</h2> Eulachon spawn between March and May, when they enter freshwater tributaries from Northern California to the Bering Sea. They mature when they reach 2 to 3 years of age and die following spawning.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food</h2> The eulachon feeds on planktonic crustaceans.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> candlefish, hooligan; French: eulachon, eulakane.<br /> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> This fish is common throughout cool northern Pacific waters, with a range from west of St. Matthews Island and Kuskokwim Bay in the Bering Sea, and Bowers Bank in the Aleutian Islands to Monterey Bay in <a href=" " target="_blank">California</a>.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> This fish is found near shore and in coastal inlets and rivers. It spends its life at sea prior to spawning.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-60297186818206714362020-02-15T16:13:00.000-08:002020-02-15T16:13:00.550-08:00Snake Eels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt= Snake eels in the Ophichthidae family have long Snake Eels border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPxOUjuQGnPXuFoG31oTnM07qD2kO7b3weXZ1e-GysQJBEstOQFZ6XYsMBwIQ6b0vBqqij-iVQfog_4lFLUZUxix3QoFHcTvMk8KLDfYwYIctqNHDT3lrOVD5mu3nnCDY2RVUowLwfCo/s1600/eels-snake.jpg" title=Snake Eels /></a></div> <br /> Snake eels in the Ophichthidae family have long, cylindrical, snakelike bodies and can move backward extremely effectively. Their tails are stiff and sharp, rather than broad and flat, as with morays. The snake eel’s tail is used like an awl to burrow tail-first into sand or mud. <br /> <br /> The nostrils are located in two short, stout barbels on top of the nose, which the eel uses to probe into crevices and cavities as it searches for food. Compared to morays and most other eels, snake eels are docile creatures, commonly seen crawling over the bottom like snakes.<br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a>In most snake eels, the dorsal fins extend almost the full length of their bodies, beginning just behind their heads but stopping short of the tips of their tails. Their anal fins are only about half as long as their bodies, also stopping before the tips of their tails. Pectoral fins are lacking or very small.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002L9DHX0/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=8443d01008fb63fe690d1a5c7907041f" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B002L9DHX0&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= Snake eels in the Ophichthidae family have long Snake Eels border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B002L9DHX0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Clousers-Flies-Fishing-Patterns-Clouser-ebook/dp/B006ISDB7M/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=51tIbNZUSML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_OU01_AC_UL160_SR126%2C160_&refRID=ECC7H423Q2BNGW2BXTAX&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=86aeeffe1bd6895700838f28fc54e376" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B006ISDB7M&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= Snake eels in the Ophichthidae family have long Snake Eels border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B006ISDB7M" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> Only a few of the profuse species reach a length exceeding 3 feet; most of them are less than a foot long. They are typically brightly colored and are generally strikingly marked with bands, spots, or both. Snake eels are found throughout the world in subtropical and tropical seas, a few ranging into temperate waters.<br /> <br /> One of the several dozen species in the Atlantic and the Caribbean is the spotted snake eel (Ophichtus ophis), averaging 2 feet in length and occasionally growing to 4 feet. Its yellowish body is covered with large brown spots. The yellow snake eel (O. zophochir) is a similar species that lives in the Pacific.<br /> <br /> Another genus represented by numerous species is Myrichthys, which includes the sharptail eel (M. acuminatus), in the Atlantic, and the tiger snake eel (M. tigrinus), in the Pacific.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-89870291164628125892020-02-10T16:13:00.000-08:002020-02-10T16:13:05.523-08:00Moray Eels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt= The Muraenidae family of morays is the most infamous group within the order Anguilliforme Moray Eels border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrrTDeshCQ5C-ww6ifTjfdTLMil4FKjr63F_YZHlGWKBXbO5jWXiy6FrI4vIFAJk55BPTz8skYVxFD3EmGU5pzp6zm1D-4etHsywvpCoCieI1XYvkEYYxOADpQXHtlZXiKCXHGEL-3rc/s1600/eels-moray.jpg" title=Moray Eels /></a></div> <br /> The Muraenidae family of morays is the most infamous group within the order Anguilliformes, which are jawed fish called eels. They constitute a family of more than 80 species, occurring in greatest abundance in tropical and subtropical waters.<br /> <br /> The typical moray’s body is flattened from side to side, pectoral fins are lacking, and the scaleless skin is thick and leathery. The dorsal and the anal fins are low, sometimes almost hidden by the wrinkled skin around them. The gill opening is small and round, and the teeth are large. Most morays are large, reaching a length of 5 to 6 feet. Some are as long as 10 feet.<br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a>Normally, morays are nocturnal, but they never miss an opportunity to appear from their rocky lairs when a meal is in the offing. They feed on small fish, octopus, crustaceans, and mollusks.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/147776254X/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=ec5a6c6432edcb1c3c7a7c714c44458f" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=147776254X&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The Muraenidae family of morays is the most infamous group within the order Anguilliforme Moray Eels border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=147776254X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fishermans-Guide-Saltwater-Prey-Invertebrates-ebook/dp/B00DJ5RZDI/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=51js6wVcDvL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_OU01_AC_UL320_SR214%2C320_&refRID=NX8PEXA5JPGJ5TAWPXSF&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=c20d439fa140eea8c806103d810f140d" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00DJ5RZDI&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The Muraenidae family of morays is the most infamous group within the order Anguilliforme Moray Eels border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B00DJ5RZDI" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> The green moray (Gymnothorax funebris), which lives in tropical and subtropical waters of both North and South America and averages 5 to 6 feet long, is an unusual brownish-green, due to a yellow slime that covers the eel’s blue body. The green moray inhabits coral reefs, sometimes going into deep water to prowl for food.<br /> <br /> The spotted moray (G. moringa) occurs in the same range as the green moray. It is usually under 3 feet long and has prominent dark spots or a chainlike pattern of dark lines on its usually yellowish body.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt= The Muraenidae family of morays is the most infamous group within the order Anguilliforme Moray Eels border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkpxZQy3OHo2ZSWuRUNmNemQB-9YDE81gGiAqIZzuilAECsUNNxIUm78xYpaTIz-jmUYyb1SDUf7cAl7mLNkdoqIWdqxNosU6lo0wVhuZ1hWfSQF1jF7ecarvSGIUGtXzbtB7MyxWbgK9/s1600/Moray-Eels.jpg" title=Moray Eels width="470" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Moray Eels</td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> The California moray (G. mordax) is similar in appearance and habits to the spotted moray. It grows to 5 feet, is found up to 65 feet deep, and may live more than 30 years. The blackedge moray (G. nigromarginatus), prevalent in the subtropical Atlantic, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico, is of similar size, but the black pattern is more pronounced, with black margins on the dorsal and the anal fins.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> Morays live primarily in coral reefs or in similar rocky areas. A moray will anchor the rear half of its body in coral and rocks, allowing the front of its body to sway with the current. In this position, with its mouth agape, it is ready to grasp any prey that comes close. This gaping stance appears menacing, but it is an adaptation suited not only to foraging but also to respiration, allowing the eel to pump water across its gills.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt= The Muraenidae family of morays is the most infamous group within the order Anguilliforme Moray Eels border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeY57p0arKANdAlLnZS1Tlsxf8vNF8dvSu8Onl9eqeKZnXuWCFX6Rr6lreeJ9jfa2KLp1_JkieOH_3C2mhLbT-9nEQcfZsVzRYK2cMZyQuvRNnELkFRnerO2N1LRgQxDXpciV8ddXT48Sp/s1600/blue-moray.jpg" title=Moray Eels width="470" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Moray Eels</td></tr> </tbody></table> <br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-62520874454930223152020-02-05T16:13:00.000-08:002020-02-05T16:13:06.512-08:00American Conger Eel (Conger oceanicus)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt= Conger eels are widely distributed members of the small Congridae family of marine eels t American Conger Eel (Conger oceanicus) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMvx0PasX9bv74_Dj2Zq9keVwSTceHchedkEx5iEwPTevsdHtBLYEBMwrwjcOaSSPBkijsDfC-qNyZMbniaHTjTzUNfybvMAjZaeKv_qJ5UqqUv3Ss8mUwNsDV5Z1_OTSQqdX8YiHxNg/s1600/eel-american-conger.jpg" title=American Conger Eel (Conger oceanicus) /></a></div> <br /> Conger eels are widely distributed members of the small Congridae family of marine eels that inhabit temperate and tropical waters.<br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> Conger are distinguished from moray eels by having pectoral fins (morays have none) and by the dark or black margin on their dorsal and anal fins. Conger eels are scaleless, and their dorsal fins originate over the tips of the pectorals. They grow much larger than American eels, with which they are sometimes confused in inshore environs.<br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a><h2> Size/Age</h2> The American conger is reportedly capable of growing to 71⁄2 feet and 87 pounds, although it is most frequently encountered at 10 to 20 pounds and 5 feet in length. Females grow larger than males.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016LT2BQE/ref=as_li_ss_il?psc=1&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=018fdeba0777d58cda69b6c5499ed1f7" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B016LT2BQE&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= Conger eels are widely distributed members of the small Congridae family of marine eels t American Conger Eel (Conger oceanicus) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B016LT2BQE" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/101-Favorite-Saltwater-Flies-Strategies-ebook/dp/B0106P736C/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=51G-Yu57bqL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_OU01_AC_UL320_SR214%2C320_&refRID=FZWFJDA3KVYZBWYAZ1D2&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=4f481a1362616556ab46d8fb778e1881" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0106P736C&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= Conger eels are widely distributed members of the small Congridae family of marine eels t American Conger Eel (Conger oceanicus) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B0106P736C" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Life history</h2> The life history of this fish is similar to that of the American eel, although the latter enter freshwater. Sexual maturity occurs between 5 and 15 years of age, and spawning congers migrate seaward, spawning in the summer in water that may be more than 1,000 feet deep.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food</h2> The diet of the nocturnal-feeding conger eel includes fish, shrimp, small shellfish, and crustaceans.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> conger, dog eel, sea eel, silver eel; French: congre d’Amerique; Spanish: congrin americana.<br /> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> The American conger occurs in the western Atlantic from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Florida and in the northern Gulf of Mexico.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> This species ranges widely from shallow inshore waters, occasionally in brackish environs, to waters hundreds of feet deep. The eels usually suspend over rocky or broken bottoms or may linger around wrecks, piers, pilings, and jetties.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-90716512285146676172020-01-31T16:13:00.000-08:002020-01-31T16:13:00.730-08:00Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt= Commonly known as a channel bass and a red Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3DNcbF281UH0YkxjIUPJbxuYkWBNyQzUFrRqhz1lIKIWzg-JQczHiZOMCa7yvNbvPYvgl01svCFaB27wsOPAWHs4YJGupx6yw5PYqgd8fPVnduhsuriKOWscp38c1QcyQA-srzSxuRE/s1600/drum-red.jpg" title=Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) /></a></div> <br /> Commonly known as a channel bass and a redfish, the red drum is second only to the black drum (see: Drum, Black) in size among members of the drum family, Sciaenidae, but probably first in the hearts of anglers. The common term “drum” refers to the loud and distinctive “drumming” noise that occurs when the fish raps a muscle against the swim bladder. The noise is voluntary and is assumed to be associated with locating and attracting mates, and it can sometimes be heard from a good distance, even by people above the water.<br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> The red drum is similar in appearance to the black drum, although its maximum size is smaller and it is more streamlined. The body is elongate, with a subterminal mouth and a blunt nose. On adults the tail is squared, and on juveniles it is rounded. There are no chin barbels, which also distinguishes it from the black drum. Its coloring is coppery red to bronze on the back, and silver and white on the sides and the belly. One black dot (also called an eyespot) or many are found at the base of the tail.<br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a><h2> Size/Age</h2> The average adult red drum is 28 inches long and weighs roughly 15 pounds. Although red drum can attain enormous sizes, they seldom do so. A 30-pounder is generally rare south of the Carolinas or in the Gulf of Mexico, although fish weighing up to 60 pounds are caught in offshore locations. Thirty- to 50-pound fish are most prominent in the mid-Atlantic, principally in North Carolina and Virginia; these sizes are considered trophies.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A5IB5SW/ref=as_li_ss_il?psc=1&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=f20695d9397f8c847ff8fe6b4605843e" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01A5IB5SW&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= Commonly known as a channel bass and a red Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B01A5IB5SW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Saltwater-Flies-Step-Step-ebook/dp/B00D7HJWRU/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=51Wo2qDspNL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_OU01_AC_UL320_SR246%2C320_&refRID=A9YJB653NJ0D1JMB2P9H&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=743444949fd1af90c6568ff227713c3d" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00D7HJWRU&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= Commonly known as a channel bass and a red Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B00D7HJWRU" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> Red drum can live 50 or more years. They are reported to live to at least 40 years in the Gulf of Mexico, and the all-tackle record, a North Carolina fish of 94 pounds, 2 ounces, was reportedly 53 years old.<br /> <br /> <h2> Life history/Behavior</h2> Males are mature by 4 years of age at 30 inches and 15 pounds, females by 5 years at 35 inches and 18 pounds. The spawning season is during the fall, although it may begin as early as August and end as late as November. Spawning takes place at dusk in the coastal waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico, near passes, inlets, and bays, and is often tied to new- or full-moon phases. Right before spawning, males change color and become dark red or bright bluish-gray above the lateral line. Both males and females, hours before mating, chase and butt each other, drumming loudly. A female may release up to 4.5 million eggs, although very few survive to adulthood. Currents and winds carry the larvae into estuarine nursery areas.<br /> <br /> Adult red drum form large schools in coastal waters, an activity presumably associated with spawning, although it occurs throughout the year. Anglers often see them at the surface or moving under schools of blue runner and little tunny. Sight casting to schools is a favored activity.<br /> <br /> Drum are known generally to remain in the waters where they were hatched, although some populations migrate seasonally, and large reds may move offshore, as previously noted.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food and feeding habits</h2> As a bottom fish, this species uses its senses of sight and touch and its downturned mouth to locate forage on the bottom through vacuuming or biting the bottom. Juveniles consume copepods, amphipods, and tiny shrimp. In the summer and the fall, adults feed on crabs, shrimp, and sand dollars. Fish such as menhaden, mullet, pinfish, sea robins, lizardfish, spot, Atlantic croaker, and flounder are the primary foods consumed during the winter and the spring. In shallow water, red drum are often seen browsing head-down with their tails slightly out of the water, a behavior called “tailing.”<br /> <br /> Other Names channel bass, redfish, rat red (schooling juveniles less than 2 pounds), bull red (more than 10 pounds), puppy drum (under 18 inches), drum, spottail bass, red bass, red horse, school drum; French: tambour rouge; Spanish: corvinón ocelado, pez rojo, corvina roja, pescado colorado.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt= Commonly known as a channel bass and a red Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOwM5xQjU7bPmbOaDENtiEtqF5yWMAGKyQpPwupxAjo2XOhhWbbkxhai5M8i4fwRprwMQD168PnNFB56ecHsSoPVRUjQ5sw7EdVC_cl5ODtuASWQ14Jrxns2KeelRMer_7IC5c25pg_b9/s1600/Red-Drum.jpg" title=Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)</td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> Red drum are found in the western Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of Maine to the Florida Keys, although they are rare north of Maryland, and all along the Gulf Coast to northern Mexico.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> An estuarine-dependent fish that becomes oceanic later in life, the red drum is found in brackish water and saltwater on sand, mud, and grass bottoms of inlets, shallow bays, tidal passes, bayous, and estuaries. The red drum also tolerates freshwater, in which some have been known to dwell permanently. Larger red drum prefer deeper waters of lower estuaries and tidal passes, whereas smaller drum remain in shallow waters near piers and jetties and on grassy flats.<br /> <br /> Red drum can survivewide ranges of salinity and temperature. Smaller drum prefer lower salinity levels than do larger ones. Optimum salinity levels range from 5 to 30 parts per thousand, optimum temperatures from 40° to 90°F.<br /> <br /> More big reds and fewer small ones exist in a fairly short stretch of the mid-Atlantic because of the rich feeding opportunities. This is said to keep the fish from migrating southward each fall, as they prefer to move offshore to warmer continental shelf waters until spring.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-60933295043335092972020-01-26T16:13:00.000-08:002020-01-26T16:13:00.205-08:00Black Drum (Pogonias cromis)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt= The black drum is the largest member of the Sciaenidae family Black Drum (Pogonias cromis) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3jJ880w01etXfsLrw9QjBAGXlLdB0ticlc_neD1W7mOPr48x6WXL27p42Bt5hEWbdhXFCHBHIKednqzqT3jwKiD4s8lvvCgDh4kA6L78oIIxuN3Ko-2qvkR0EKBaMHv1xV3Bj55nEAg/s1600/drum-black.jpg" title=Black Drum (Pogonias cromis) /></a></div> <br /> The black drum is the largest member of the Sciaenidae family (drum and croaker). The common term “drum” refers to the loud and distinctive “drumming” noise that occurs when the fish raps a muscle against the swim bladder. This voluntary noise is assumed to be associated with locating and attracting mates, and it can sometimes be heard from a good distance, even by people above the water.<br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> The black drum has a short, deep, and stocky body, with a high, arched back and a slightly concave tail. The lower jaw sports numerous barbels, or short whiskers. There are large pavementlike teeth in the throat, and the mouth is low. The dorsal fins have 11 spines, 20 to 22 dorsal rays, and 41 to 45 scales along the lateral line, which runs all the way to the end of the tail. Coloring is silvery with a brassy sheen and blackish fins, turning to dark gray after death.<br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a><h2> Size/Age</h2> Average small drum weigh 5 to 10 pounds; large specimens commonly weigh 20 to 40 pounds. In Delaware Bay, fish from 40 to 70 pounds are fairly common in the spring. The all-tackle record is 113 pounds. Black drum live up to 35 years.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GISN0A/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=63793f45e5564d531362605642b3b3b2" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B000GISN0A&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The black drum is the largest member of the Sciaenidae family Black Drum (Pogonias cromis) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B000GISN0A" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Inshore-Fly-Fishing-2nd-Pioneering-ebook/dp/B005GT2AG2/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=51E8UCxNWjL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_OU01_AC_UL320_SR256%2C320_&refRID=V808MBA4SD7748TPKZ97&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=6d1950016a7a900477086163baf9e80f" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B005GT2AG2&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The black drum is the largest member of the Sciaenidae family Black Drum (Pogonias cromis) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B005GT2AG2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Life history/Behavior</h2> Black drum adults form schools and migrate in the spring to bay and river mouths for the spawning season; in the Gulf of Mexico this is from February to May. Larval black drum remain in shallow muddy waters until they are 4 to 5 inches long; then they move near shore.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food and feeding habits</h2> Adult black drum feed on crustaceans and mollusks, with a preference for blue crabs, shedder crabs, shrimp, oysters, and squid. They locate food with their chin barbels and crush and grind shells with their pharyngeal teeth.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> drum, sea drum, common drum, banded drum, butterfly drum, gray drum, striped drum, oyster drum, oyster cracker; French: grand tambour; Japanese: guchi, ishimochi, nibe; Portuguese: corvina; Spanish: corvinón negro, corbina, corvina negro, corvina, roncador.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt= The black drum is the largest member of the Sciaenidae family Black Drum (Pogonias cromis) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmt1xDCdUaV7wjU2sZIWSBSIp3D3rH6Na1oZudroVV4jvzALvngB4CAdxDg30FogNlDG6gngs0-y6pzTGdhh1ztnElPXiI130X03wAB0jOfrVBT9XzfQFrmCkI91gGkCRtWl7z21ga9boT/s1600/Black-Drum.jpg" title=Black Drum (Pogonias cromis) width="465" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Drum (Pogonias cromis)</td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> Black drum are found in the western Atlantic Ocean, from Massachusetts to southern Florida and across the Gulf of Mexico to northern Mexico. They rarely occur north of New Jersey.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> An inshore bottom fish, the black drum prefers sandy bottoms in salt or brackish waters near jetties, breakwaters, bridge and pier pilings, clam and oyster beds, channels, estuaries, bays, high marsh areas, and shorelines. Larger fish often favor shoal areas and channels.<br /> <br /> Black drum can survive wide ranges of salinity and temperature. The small fish inhabit brackish and freshwater habitats; the adults usually prefer estuaries in which salinity ranges from 9 to 26 parts per thousand and the temperature ranges from 53° to 91°F.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-51463268380171230392020-01-21T16:13:00.000-08:002020-01-21T16:13:06.640-08:00Pompano Dolphin (Coryphaena equiselis)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt= The pompano dolphin is the smaller of the two Coryphaenidae family species and is often c Pompano Dolphin (Coryphaena equiselis) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-xaDFJ6p72N7gXBkbGL0Ocz4_uahNDgW0YE6NJsA0P1DyPyCkWhLkIKpteRIZh2wpySBv1f9UFU9mg7WPPAX8F_E4vGus-zpN4JNOwOHt1AnRc3iNO1tgJ0OWukWFHLOgCE8i-WGqCI/s1600/dolphin-pompano.jpg" title=Pompano Dolphin (Coryphaena equiselis) /></a></div> <br /> The pompano dolphin is the smaller of the two Coryphaenidae family species and is often confused with the females and the young of its larger relative the common dolphin (C. hippurus). Like its relative, it is caught commercially and by anglers, and it is an excellent food fish. The pompano dolphin is usually presented in fish markets and restaurants under its Hawaiian name, mahimahi. This species, and its relative, are often referred to as “dolphin-fish” to distinguish them from the so-called dolphin of the porpoise family, which is an unrelated mammal and not sought by anglers.<br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> This species is almost identical to the common dolphin in coloring and general shape, although it has greater body depth behind the head than the common dolphin has and a squarish, rather than rounded, tooth patch on the tongue. There are fewer dorsal rays on the pompano dolphin—48 to 55, versus the common dolphin’s 55 to 65.<br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a><h2> Size</h2> The average size is 20 to 24 inches and 4 to 5 pounds, although it reportedly grows to 50 inches. <br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010FV2LK/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=b3ca3e13816136f313c118b5be15acdb" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0010FV2LK&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The pompano dolphin is the smaller of the two Coryphaenidae family species and is often c Pompano Dolphin (Coryphaena equiselis) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B0010FV2LK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Saltwater-Fishing-Ultimate-Mastering-fishing-ebook/dp/B00O3EL4G8/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=f072cb39cd972860e9743fbe5175a214" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00O3EL4G8&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The pompano dolphin is the smaller of the two Coryphaenidae family species and is often c Pompano Dolphin (Coryphaena equiselis) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B00O3EL4G8" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Life history/Behavior</h2> Little is known of the life history of the pompano dolphin, other than that it is a schooling tropical water species, prone to near-surface feeding and attracted to objects. This fish is similar to the common dolphin in most behavioral respects.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food</h2> The pompano dolphin’s diet consists of small fish and squid.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> mahimahi, blue dolphin, small dolphin, dolphinfish, pompano dolphinfish; French: coryphéne dauphin; Japanese: ebisu-shiira; Portuguese: dourado; Spanish: dorado.<br /> <br /> <h2> Distribution/Habitat</h2> The pompano dolphin is found worldwide in tropical seas; in the United States it is most commonly encountered in Hawaii. The pompano dolphin reportedly prefers surface temperatures above 75°F. It is considered more oceanic than the common dolphin is but may enter coastal waters.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-41892778400886783252020-01-16T16:13:00.000-08:002020-01-16T16:13:00.373-08:00Common Dolphin (Coryphaena hippurus)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iEaBtqRHKBAAJplJwmCHU3PbQcmA-6Sm8a5FvuDb3K6f1FnONnaJ7Rhz3tvrHycmhuxhWKuO5B6Pl6Yqm828SQ6lqYuuhlExvhyphenhyphentkYw1iGdZPjPxH7Np_gWtZ1stBn_R3v-LE4ApX38/s1600/dolphin-common.jpg" /></a></div> <br /> The common dolphin is the larger of the two very similar species in the family Coryphaenidae, both of which are cosmopolitan in warm seas. This fish is one of the top offshore gamefish among anglers and is an excellent, hard-fighting species that puts on an acrobatic show once hooked.<br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> The body is slender and streamlined, tapering sharply from head to tail. Large males, called bulls, have high, vertical foreheads, while the female’s forehead is rounded. The anal fin has 25 to 31 soft rays and is long, stretching over half of the length of the body. The dorsal fin has 55 to 66 soft rays. Its caudal fin is deeply forked; there are no spines in any of the fins; and the mouth has bands of fine teeth.<br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a>Coloring is variable and defies an accurate, simple description. Generally, when the fish is alive in the water, the common dolphin is rich iridescent blue or blue-green dorsally; gold, bluish-gold, or silvery gold on the lower flanks; and silvery white or yellow on the belly. The sides are sprinkled with a mixture of dark and light spots, ranging from black or blue to golden.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017GO8U0O/ref=as_li_ss_il?psc=1&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=b0036349088219588f50864f5b48619d" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B017GO8U0O&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The common dolphin is the larger of the two very similar species in the family Coryphaeni Common Dolphin (Coryphaena hippurus) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B017GO8U0O" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Baits-Rigs-Tackle/dp/0936240245/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=51R89QQkWwL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR101%2C160_&refRID=1JA5WGVDAH0QJGR6V9ZG&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=e303347ae6278678ad0cc8556cebc325" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0936240245&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The common dolphin is the larger of the two very similar species in the family Coryphaeni Common Dolphin (Coryphaena hippurus) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=0936240245" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> The dorsal fin is rich blue, and the anal fin is golden or silvery. The other fins are generally golden yellow, edged with blue. Dark vertical bands sometimes appear when the fish is attacking prey. The color description of the dolphin is difficult because it undergoes sudden changes in color, which occur in an instant, often when the fish is excited.<br /> <br /> When the fish is removed from the water, however, the colors fluctuate between blue, green, and yellow; the brilliant colors that were apparent when in the water fade quickly. After death, the fish usually turns a uniform yellow or silvery gray.<br /> <br /> <h2> Size/Age</h2> The average size is 5 to 15 pounds, although larger catches up to 50 pounds are not uncommon. The all-tackle world record is an 87-pounder caught in Costa Rica in 1976, and it has been rumored that fish up to 100 pounds have been caught by commercial longliners. The maximum length is reportedly 82 inches.<br /> <br /> Dolphin are fast growing and short lived. Few common dolphin live longer than 4 years, and most live just 3 years. Males grow larger than females and are capable of growing to 60 pounds in just 2 years, although this is exceptional and the result of consistently favorable warm water temperatures and abundant food.<br /> <br /> <h2> Life history/Behavior</h2> The common dolphin is a prolific spawner and grows rapidly, meaning that it must by nature be an eating machine. Spawning season begins primarily in the spring or early summer and lasts several months in warmer waters. Dolphin reach sexual maturity in their first year of life and produce a large volume of eggs.<br /> <br /> Dolphin are schooling fish and are often congregated in large numbers, sometimes by the thousands. They are almost always between the surface and 100-foot depths, but they are encountered by anglers on or just under the surface and are probably the most surface-oriented of all big-game fish. <br /> <br /> This, plus the fact that they are visually oriented feeders that primarily forage in daylight, helps endear them to anglers. Offshore anglers frequently encounter packs of dolphin and are able to elicit strikes from several fish in quick order.<br /> <br /> These fish are evidently also migratory. It is believed that dolphin in both hemispheres migrate away from the equator in the spring and the summer and toward the equator in the fall and the winter.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food</h2> Common dolphin are extremely fast swimmers and feed in pairs, small packs, and schools, extensively consuming whatever forage fishes are most abundant. Flyingfish and squid are prominent food in areas where these exist, and small fish and crustaceans that are around floating sargassum weed are commonly part of the diet, especially for smaller dolphin. Dolphin are very aggressive feeders, and they can move extremely fast to capture a meal.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> dolphinfish, common dolphinfish, mahimahi, mahi mahi, dorado; Chinese: fei niau fu, ngau tau yue; French: coryphéne commune; Italian: lampuga; Japanese: shiira, toohyaku; Portuguese: doirado, dourado; Spanish: dorado, dorado com ún, lampuga.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt= The common dolphin is the larger of the two very similar species in the family Coryphaeni Common Dolphin (Coryphaena hippurus) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PaG9KmSPLWjWBVmY-5-c9-zIcGsCWs3xWFS-6bIQobCVl80aurbLjImHrWB8A-7LbZnaNjdPsUQGNvyBrwRbco4tvKGV-iKxxv4VAkMTfu0ivMbpAKXeus9M058e6LqzwV5WKPFvSgN0/s1600/Common-Dolphin.jpg" title=Common Dolphin (Coryphaena hippurus) width="465" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Dolphin (Coryphaena hippurus)</td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> The common dolphin is found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters. In the western Atlantic, it occurs in areas influenced by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream and has been caught as far north as Prince Edward Island and as far south as Río de Janeiro. In the eastern Pacific, it ranges from Peru to Oregon.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> Common dolphin are warmwater pelagic fish, occurring in the open ocean and usually found close to the surface, although in waters of great depth. They sometimes inhabit coastal waters and occasionally areas near piers, but in the open ocean they often concentrate around floating objects, especially buoys, driftwood, and seaweed lines or clusters. <br /> <br /> The young commonly frequent warm nearshore waters in sargassum beds or other flotsam. In developing countries, commercial fishermen may place floating bundles of bamboo reeds, cork planks, and the like in the water to concentrate dolphin before seining or gillnetting commences.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-91167886564929127142020-01-11T16:13:00.000-08:002020-01-11T16:13:01.002-08:00Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhVpaUjk4x9-np87p_ffcB6XJZdfUpQ40XA2hTXvo1CzR3aXYYOxR845gmo-zNYzWrkOhDphsoDK4HU-8PA5x4-KnyaPF6a2NJkjmwTxjm2nyEm1BLfDhXvSGCCrL2h1cOHYv5ypwNR0/s1600/dogfish-spiny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=sh is the most prominent member of the Squalidae family of dog Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhVpaUjk4x9-np87p_ffcB6XJZdfUpQ40XA2hTXvo1CzR3aXYYOxR845gmo-zNYzWrkOhDphsoDK4HU-8PA5x4-KnyaPF6a2NJkjmwTxjm2nyEm1BLfDhXvSGCCrL2h1cOHYv5ypwNR0/s1600/dogfish-spiny.jpg" title=Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) /></a></div> <br /> The spiny dogfish is the most prominent member of the Squalidae family of dogfish sharks. Some live in relatively shallow water close to shore; others inhabit great depths. They vary widely in length, and one of their chief anatomical characteristics is the lack of an anal fin.<br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> The body of the spiny dogfish is elongate and slender. The head is pointed. The color is slate gray to brownish on top, sometimes with white spots, and fading to white below. It has spines at the beginning of both dorsal fins; these spines are mildly poisonous and provide a defense for the spiny dogfish.<br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a><h2> Size/Age</h2> Spiny dogfish are common at 2 to 3 feet in length; the maximum size is about 63 inches and 20 pounds. In California waters, a large fat female will be roughly 4 feet long and will weigh 15 pounds. In the north-western Atlantic, maximum ages reported for males and females are 35 and 40 years, respectively.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prestige-Womens-Alpine-Fishing-Vest/dp/B007Y323MO/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=51qTL-eDkwL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0QRDKD6ZSXJ1AQGGHZMT&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=21f7f6fdaae80ac1d5d9213d586be247" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B007Y323MO&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt=sh is the most prominent member of the Squalidae family of dog Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B007Y323MO" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Intermedia-Outdoors-Sport-Fish-Pacific/dp/0936240288/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=51gYdpbOtML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL320_SR214%2C320_&refRID=1GWVE3YB59N4VASKFKV3&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=41f158adcd7fbeddf33fb872d3e2ff0f" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0936240288&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt=sh is the most prominent member of the Squalidae family of dog Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=0936240288" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Life history</h2> Spiny dogfish tend to school by size and, for large mature individuals, by sex. Females are larger than males and produce from 3 to 14 young at a time in alternate years. The species bears live young and has a gestation period of about 18 to 22 months. Spiny dogfish are long lived and nonmigratory; heavy commercial fishing pressure in a given area will rapidly lower populations of this slow-growing, low-reproductive species.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food and feeding habits</h2> The spiny dogfish is voracious and feeds on practically all smaller fish, including herring, sardines, anchovies, smelt, and even small spiny dogfish and crabs. They have been known to attack schools of herring and mackerel, as well as concentrations of haddock, cod, sand lance, and other species.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> dogfish, dog shark, grayfish, Pacific grayfish, Pacific dogfish, spinarola, California dogfish, blue dog, common spiny fish, spiny dogfish, picked fish, spiky dog, spotted spiny, spurdog, white-spotted dogfish, Victorian spotted dogfish; French: aiguillat; Italian: spinarolo; Japanese: aburatsunozame; Portuguese: galhudo; Russian: katran; Spanish: galludo.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=sh is the most prominent member of the Squalidae family of dog Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicb9UP_Q5c1UfDrdvyOBNa3yfS3mdKuMBaMo3ltP_PEPjJFYCJKIueMjUmoASJgXefWWploVoGDgRtxmMy36HBEYsCXjik0RleBIcJxtfX-b2LcSGGF49npKbUrRKfn-UrhwPabgWmpJpo/s1600/Spiny-Dogfish.jpg" title=Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias)</td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> Spiny dogfish occur in temperate and subtropical waters. In the western Atlantic, they range from Greenland to Argentina; in the eastern Pacific, they range from the Bering Sea to Chile.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> This species is common in nearshore waters along some coasts and may be found in enclosed bays and estuaries; it generally inhabits deep waters and typically favors the bottom. In temperate waters during the spring and the fall, spiny dogfish can range into coastal waters, heading more northerly in the summer. In the winter, they are distributed primarily in deeper waters along the edge of the continental shelf.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-43426906777914388592020-01-06T16:13:00.000-08:002020-01-06T16:13:09.481-08:00Cutlassfish<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt=sh are members of the family Trichiuridae Cutlassfish border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nhV9Nsi0ESnl9cZxdNDGozs7_IKR-Xzrl7aV-5zeWEMZz3KMrZlzz64mUP3fHYad0uu4fYASYKCV2-igYzKUkWSQ_l0XGfCP_BI6Z6aQwt89rGvyu2gEeuzMEtGbOwNmDVyJOH5dYa0/s1600/cutlassfish.jpg" title=Cutlassfish /></a></div> <br /> Cutlassfish are members of the family Trichiuridae, encompassing nearly 20 species. They are swift swimmers that generally dwell on the bottom. Used as bait for larger gamefish in the United States, cutlassfish are a valued food and a commercial species in many other countries, especially Japan, where they may be used for sashimi. They are also marketed salted/dried and frozen.<br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> Characterized by their long, compressed bodies that taper to pointed tails, cutlassfish are also commonly known as ribbonfish. Their heads are spear-shaped, and the fish have sharp, arrowlike teeth in large mouths. Their coloring is silvery, the jaws edged with black.<br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a><h2> Size/Age</h2> Cutlassfish can reach up to 5 feet in length and 2 pounds in weight. The average length is 3 feet. The all-tackle record for Atlantic cutlassfish (Trichiurus lepturus) is a 7-pound fish caught in South Africa in 1995.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Berkley-Lady-Coated-Fish-Gloves/dp/B003ZZE3MI/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=41CfrZyI4OL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0A2CZ03VTWYYDAPDXJ8D&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=672acae3559115457c3bbc8206798bd8" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B003ZZE3MI&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt=sh are members of the family Trichiuridae Cutlassfish border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B003ZZE3MI" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sport-Fish-Atlantic-Vic-Dunaway/dp/0936240172/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=51PFFIYT0rL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL320_SR214%2C320_&refRID=1Y7YWQY6B185NYMARP5Z&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=51f662c6e87d1f444bd260985bd74497" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0936240172&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt=sh are members of the family Trichiuridae Cutlassfish border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=0936240172" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Food and feeding habits</h2> Cutlassfish feed on anchovies, sardines, squid, and crustaceans. Adults usually feed on pelagic prey near the surface during the daytime and migrate to the bottom at night. Subadults and small juveniles do the opposite.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> cutlass fish, ribbonfish, Atlantic cutlassfish, Pacific cutlassfish, largehead hairtail; Japanese: tachinouo, tachiuo, tachuo; Portuguese: lírio, peixe-espada; Spanish: espada, pez sable, sable, savola.<br /> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> In North America, the Atlantic cutlassfish commonly ranges from Massachusetts to Argentina and throughout the Gulf of Mexico, especially Texas. In the Pacific, cutlassfish inhabit waters from Southern California to northern Peru.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> Preferring muddy bottoms in shallow water, cutlassfish gather in large numbers in bays, estuaries, and shallow coastal areas.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-3537334569240525792020-01-01T16:13:00.000-08:002020-01-01T16:13:00.518-08:00Yellowfin Croaker (Umbrina roncador)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt= The yellowfin croaker is a member of the family Sciaenidae Yellowfin Croaker (Umbrina roncador) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8bWhoEFMehtpwtEBkSn20tIRanB3rMMNGh5Jv9v7ayizFIV1Tc5wSDtpi2nDX4esP0mKLFmesluZof7_1h795lqJ44HU8AXvVLvv8JjzoZh5nWsMS9A1P7GPcPJwf6vofw0OfAW7Ig8/s1600/croaker-yellowfin.jpg" title=Yellowfin Croaker (Umbrina roncador) /></a></div> <br /> The yellowfin croaker is a member of the family Sciaenidae (drum and croaker), known for the drumlike noises it makes when it raps a muscle against its swim bladder. The resulting distinctive drumming sound is amplified by the swim bladder and can be heard at some distance.<br /> <br /> The sciaenids are one of the most important food fish in the world because nearly all species are good to eat and are harvested commercially. Found along the Pacific coast, the yellowfin croaker is a popular catch for light-tackle surf anglers.<br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a><h2> Identification</h2> The body of the yellowfin croaker is elliptical-elongate; the back is somewhat arched and the head blunt. Its coloring is iridescent blue to gray, with brassy reflections on the back, diffusing to silvery white below. Dark wavy lines streak the sides. The fins are yellowish, except for the dark dorsal fins. It has a small barbel on the chin tip and two strong anal spines; the barbel and the heavy anal spines distinguish the yellowfin from other California croaker.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rapala-Marine-Fisherman-Glove/dp/B002YIAES4/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=41m5XppIc2L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=13W73NPQPZ5YKF5VY5FP&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=579a66e1f0544f3013614a8cb5a01636" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B002YIAES4&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The yellowfin croaker is a member of the family Sciaenidae Yellowfin Croaker (Umbrina roncador) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B002YIAES4" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Florida-Sportsman-Sport-Fish-Mexico/dp/0936240180/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=51DpWHKIY3L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL320_SR214%2C320_&refRID=1207QKWZ4VGMEEPQA1G6&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=209898eaa8c5d25f67e5b27b732146d8" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0936240180&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The yellowfin croaker is a member of the family Sciaenidae Yellowfin Croaker (Umbrina roncador) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=0936240180" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Size</h2> The average weight for a yellowfin croaker is less than 1 pound. The all-tackle record is 2 pounds, 11 ounces.<br /> <br /> <h2> Life history/Behavior</h2> Yellowfin croaker are sexually mature at 9 inches in length. Their spawning season is in the summer, when this species is most common along sandy beaches. They move into deeper waters in the winter, traveling in schools or small groups.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food and feeding habits</h2> Although the yellowfin croaker primarily consumes small fish and fish fry, it also feeds on small crustaceans, worms, and mollusks.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> Catalina croaker, yellow-tailed croaker, golden croaker, yellowfin drum.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt= The yellowfin croaker is a member of the family Sciaenidae Yellowfin Croaker (Umbrina roncador) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-Kq_62Z9U-ZuMJwKzIyQhloLtGQhyK3bSG8u2NOGtQ-3EYKAzm4kM9YlmfTHgWNtR-mr0TFF5wFxKC4HHE5oRogTRCDv1tSME3MvqMeTJ48FPr0XUPj_qsZ9qw8yGaChyphenhyphen1ZCc6EwR3b4/s1600/Yellowfin-Croaker.jpg" title=Yellowfin Croaker (Umbrina roncador) /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellowfin Croaker (Umbrina roncador)</td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> The yellowfin croaker is found from the Gulf of California, Mexico, to Point Conception, California.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> These fish inhabit shallow parts of bays, channels, harbors, and other nearshore waters over sandy bottoms.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-31654948999378014012019-12-27T16:13:00.000-08:002019-12-27T16:13:00.208-08:00White Croaker (Genyonemus lineatus)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt= the white croaker is a small North American Paci White Croaker (Genyonemus lineatus) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsSi_ElUtqHS1eg21G3k33d5WTqb6LFBSPp32OCJL3X6J_MAnOM2MNu2Q3Mu6hCZ0GPGzqohRqtV7NOMVI-JpmmbvsiAVd4WjrSBMVH8WPgVJBxLKnAnXl_Izxjev5_vWrEPRI8Hd35E/s1600/croaker-white.jpg" title=White Croaker (Genyonemus lineatus) /></a></div> <br /> A member of the Sciaenidae family, the white croaker is a small North American Pacific coast fish. The common name “croaker” is derived from the voluntary deep croaking noises made when the fish raps a muscle against the swim bladder, which acts as an amplifier. The resultant distinctive drumming noise can be heard from a far distance.<br /> <br /> Although the flesh is edible, the white croaker is considered a nuisance, being easily hooked on most any type of live bait. Like its cousin the queenfish (Seriphus politus; see: Queenfish), many white croaker are caught accidentally by anglers.<br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a><h2> Identification</h2> The body of the white croaker is elongate and compressed. Its head is oblong and bluntly rounded, and its mouth is somewhat underneath the head. A deep notch separates the two dorsal fins. Its coloring is iridescent brown to yellowish on the back, becoming silvery below. Faint, wavy lines appear over the silvery parts. The fins are yellow to white.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CQGSX32/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=5465a89ddadd477d9419926acb7e589e" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00CQGSX32&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= the white croaker is a small North American Paci White Croaker (Genyonemus lineatus) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B00CQGSX32" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0936240164/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=9827b71221849e3c07a47149cd8b2cd7" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0936240164&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= the white croaker is a small North American Paci White Croaker (Genyonemus lineatus) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=0936240164" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> The white croaker is one of five California croaker that have subterminal mouths. They can be distinguished from the California corbina (Menticirrhus undulatus; see: Corbina, California) and the yellowfin croaker (Umbrina roncador; see: Croaker, Yellowfin) by the absence of a barbel. The 12 to 15 spines in the first dorsal fin serve to distinguish white croaker from all the other croaker with subterminal mouths, as none of these has more than 11 spines in this fin.<br /> <br /> <h2> Size/Age</h2> The average weight is 1 pound. It is believed the white croaker can live up to 15 years, although most live far fewer years.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food and feeding habits</h2> White croaker consume a variety of fish, squid, shrimp, octopus, worms, small crabs, clams, and other items, living or dead.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> kingfish, king-fish, king croaker, shiner, Pasadena trout, tommy croaker, little bass; Japanese: shiroguchi.<br /> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> White croaker range from Magdalena Bay, Baja California, to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, but are not abundant north of San Francisco.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> Preferring sandy bottoms, white croaker inhabit quiet surf zones, shallow bays, and lagoons. Most of the time they are found in offshore areas at depths of 10 to 100 feet. On rare occasions, they are abundant at depths as great as 600 feet.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-63304467469553909382019-12-22T16:13:00.000-08:002019-12-22T16:13:02.208-08:00Spotfin Croaker (Roncador stearnsii)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt= the spotfin croaker is a small species caught by bay Spotfin Croaker (Roncador stearnsii) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIbsoPLNRIw31W-e-gykMgVxJqJHC3vMToWhr7jBRnu5v9RIpKYMCJkjV1qeOfhxU0jLIr9ywCpmFQvlPjvgjCObAODiQPfwgpd-_4b0gEuy5rVI6y30M3jK-avnoOG0DdMW3nX-gjkA/s1600/croaker-spotfin.jpg" title=Spotfin Croaker (Roncador stearnsii) /></a></div> <br /> A member of the Sciaenidae (drum and croaker) family, the spotfin croaker is a small species caught by bay, surf, and pier anglers and highly valued as table fare. <br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> The body of the spotfin croaker is elongate but heavy forward. The upper profile of the head is steep and slightly curved and abruptly rounded at the very blunt snout. The mouth is subterminal, being underneath the head. The color is silvery gray, with a bluish luster above and white below. There are dark wavy lines on the sides and a large black spot at the base of the pectoral fin.<br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a>The pectoral fin spot, the subterminal mouth, and the absence of a fleshy barbel distinguish the spotfin croaker from other California croaker. Small specimens may be confused with small white croaker, although dorsal fin counts differ. The spotfin has 11 or fewer (usually 10) dorsal fin spines; the white croaker has 12 to 15. Large male spotfins in breeding colors are known as “golden croaker.”<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015SRU1YE/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=8a2723ebbf6c1a2115b3a5659ca55a94" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B015SRU1YE&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= the spotfin croaker is a small species caught by bay Spotfin Croaker (Roncador stearnsii) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B015SRU1YE" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Notleys-Ultimate-Guide-Saltwater-Fishing/dp/1571884823/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=5112whgRbnL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR104%2C160_&refRID=1WRAMF1YGMZ4J3P301N0&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=ff5e1bc7e4f4bc336bfd79f9fd5ca204" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1571884823&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= the spotfin croaker is a small species caught by bay Spotfin Croaker (Roncador stearnsii) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1571884823" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Size</h2> The average spotfin croaker is small to medium in size, and most weigh roughly a pound. The largest caught on rod and reel in California was 27 inches long and weighed 10.5 pounds.<br /> <br /> <h2> Life history/Behavior</h2> Spotfin croaker travel considerably but with no definite pattern, moving extensively from bay to bay, usually in small groups but sometimes in groups numbering up to four dozen. Spawning season is from June through September, and spawning evidently takes place offshore, as no ripe fish are caught in the surf, although 1-inch juveniles do appear in the surf in the fall.<br /> <br /> <h2> Food and feeding habits</h2> Spotfin croaker have large pharyngeal teeth that are well suited to crushing clams, which make up a major portion of their diet; crustaceans and worms are also eaten extensively.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> spotty, spot, golden croaker.<br /> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> Spotfin croaker range from Mazatlán, Mexico, to Point Conception, California, including the Gulf of California; in California they are most abundant south of Los Angeles.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> Spotfins are found along beaches and in bays over bottoms that vary from coarse sand to heavy mud and at depths varying from 4 to 50 or more feet. They prefer depressions and holes near shore.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592705046066696668.post-60519651713085909812019-12-17T16:13:00.000-08:002019-12-17T16:13:00.202-08:00Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href=" " imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt= The Atlantic croaker is a member of the Sciaenidae family Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HTkn0bKbDCLhrAus77iqjwac-2k2WIFK-6_9nZNODNmImDSROSNepwO0s-qAXv0p3iyjPUnPk0YoaM_5TpiZ2ow4XMuYH8hvbugWZ8bpfG58a4Vv9mpV37DXSL3F-R46Plc1pRcpLE8/s1600/croaker-atlantic.jpg" title=Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) /></a></div> <br /> The Atlantic croaker is a member of the Sciaenidae family (drum and croaker) and one of the most frequently caught estuarine and near-shore marine fish along the eastern coast of the United States. The common name “croaker” is derived from the voluntary deep croaking noises made when the fish raps a muscle against its swim bladder.<br /> <br /> <h2> Identification</h2> The Atlantic croaker has a small, elongated body with a short, high first dorsal fin and a long, low second dorsal fin. There are 6 to 10 tiny barbels on the chin. The middle rays of the caudal fins are longer than those above and below, creating a wedgelike appearance. Its coloring is greenish above and white below, with brownish-black spots and a silver iridescence covering the body. There are dark, wavy lines on the sides. During spawning, the Atlantic croaker takes on a bronze hue (thus the nickname “golden cracker”), and its pelvic fins turn yellow.<br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a><h2> Size/Age</h2> The average fish is 12 inches long and weighs 1.5 pounds, although the species may grow to 20 inches. The all-tackle record weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces. It can live up to 5 years.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" style="width: 450px;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spro-Bucktail-Jig-Pack-of-1/dp/B0009V0OC4/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=41BZFKjJMlL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0P4QVRGPVT77H3EQ9H73&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=1c960ce60d97625f947f245b53587b3c" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0009V0OC4&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The Atlantic croaker is a member of the Sciaenidae family Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B0009V0OC4" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> <td align="center" width="225"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580801714/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=identifyfish-20&linkId=cfef287260e56e577e0c627d284b9784" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1580801714&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=identifyfish-20" /></a><img alt= The Atlantic croaker is a member of the Sciaenidae family Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=identifyfish-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1580801714" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <h2> Life history/Behavior</h2> Spawning occurs at sea in the winter and the spring (the peak month is November), when the Atlantic croaker migrates to deeper, warmer water. In the southerly range, it is assumed that all croaker spawn in the open Gulf of Mexico, near the mouths of various passes that lead into shallow bays and lagoons. Adults migrate in schools or small groups to the bays in the spring and leave the marsh in the fall to enter deep gulf waters. <br /> <br /> <h2> Food and feeding habits</h2> Adult croaker feed on detritus, larger invertebrates, and fish. Sensory barbels allow the Atlantic croaker to find food on the bottom.<br /> <br /> <h2> Other Names</h2> croaker, crocus, golden cracker, hardhead, king billy; Japanese: ishimoki; Portuguese: corvina; Spanish: corbina, corvinón brasileño.<br /> <br /> <h2> Distribution</h2> The Atlantic croaker is found along the Atlantic coast from Cape Cod to the Bay of Campeche. While it is abundant off the entire coast of the Gulf of Mexico, the croaker periodically becomes most common in Louisiana and Mississippi waters.<br /> <br /> <h2> Habitat</h2> The Atlantic croaker is a bottom-dwelling, estuarine-dependent fish that becomes oceanic during spawning. It prefers mud, sand, and shell bottoms; areas around rocks; waters near jetties, piers, and bridges; and surf. Juveniles inhabit both open and vegetated shallow marsh areas. Adult croaker can occupy a wide range of salinities, from 20 to 75 parts per thousand, and temperatures of 50° to 96°F. Large fish are not found at temperatures below 50°F. Larvae and juveniles, however, are more tolerant of lower temperatures.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16172197916991080481noreply@blogger.com0