STRIPED BASS
Description:
Seven or eight pronounced dark stripes run the length of the body. The color is usually blending dark green or blue and silver, giving the fish a metallic sheen. The lower jaw protrudes, and the body appears to be heavy with a big belly.
ATLANTIC BONITO (Bonito)
Description:
The shape of this fish is tubular, streamlined much like that of the Oceanic Bonito, but a little more slender. Sharp black wavy lines run along the upper half of the body from the silvery sides of the fish across the deep blue back. Several large spike-like teeth show in the lower jaw. This fish doesn’t have the brilliance in color of the Oceanic Bonito.
MANGROVE SNAPPER
(Gray Snapper, Mango Snapper, Black Snapper)
Description:
Darker bands mark the upper half of the body; the sides are usually an overall reddish hue that can vary from a coppery tone to deep red. The color varies according to the bottom they live over. Fish from sandy areas will have a light grayish tone replacing the darker reds of those who live on reefs or in the darker waters of bays and rivers.
Size:
1 to 3 pounds are the average, but have been reported up to 20 pounds. This fish is sometimes confused with other snappers, and may be miss-reported.
Tackle/bait, and method:
Casting, still fishing, and drift fishing are the fishing methods used. Light spinning or baitcasting rigs are just fine in the bays, rivers and inlets. The baits of choice for shallow waters are as follows: live shrimp, live minnows, fiddler crabs, cut shrimp, cut squid, and cut bait. We catch more than a few with suspending lures, but you must match your bait. Medium spinning and baitcasting, and light ocean tackle are best when offshore. The best baits for this habitat are live small fish, live shrimp, and cut fish.
These fish have good eyesight, so be careful of the leader and hook sizes you use. They are not easily fooled.
The strike is a fast pecking motion, and the hook must be set quickly. Once the fish feels the hook it will give a long run and a determined fight.
Range/habitat:
Gulf wide and up the southern east coast, but more populated in the tropical waters. Smaller fish populate the bays, inlets, and river mouths. Once the fish reach about 12” it will move offshore. In deep water these fish are usually located over reefs, both natural and artificial, and wrecks. In the keys the larger fish can be caught in the deep channels and passes. In the northern gulf, the larger fish offshore are known as Black Snapper.
Food value: Excellent
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Ballyhoo
Description:
A member of the halfbeak family. The lower beak is developed while the upper jaw remains short. The Ballyhoo has a long streamlined body, which is silvery with a greenish-black back, with dark fins. It has a deep forked tail fin, with a larger lower lobe, and unscaled anal and dorsal fins. The tip of the lower jaw and the upper lobe of the tail fin are orange-red. It has short pectoral fins. The pelvic fin extends past the beginning of the dorsal fin.
Size:
Common to 12” with a maximum length of 16”
Tackle/bait:
Range/habitat:
The fish are pelagic, and are found in the Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico, mostly in the southern regions. They are most common over reefs and shoals, but are widespread from deep water to the larger bays.
Food value:
Ballyhoo is used for bait.
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SHEEPHEAD
Description:
The Sheephead is identified by its chunky body outline and the vertical black bars that stand out against the dull white or yellowish background.
The mouth is full of big goat like teeth. The roof of the mouth has a field of rounded teeth that look much like corn.
The teeth distinguish it from the juvenile Black Drum. The spines on the dorsal and anal fins are heavy and sharp.
Size:
Less than 4 pounds is common, but plentiful between 5 to 7 pounds.
Fish 10 pounds are taken off the northern coast of Florida each year.
Tackle/bait:
Light spinning or baitcasting rigs are fine however the rod tips should be heavy as the toothy mouths make it hard to set the hook. Be ready to set the hook, as the Sheephead is a delicate biter. Its attack is only a nip at the bait.
The best baits are, fiddler crabs, or other small crabs, live shrimp or fresh dead shrimp. Pieces of oyster or clams also make good bait. Sheephead will hit slow moving jigs tipped with said baits.
Range/habitat:
Sheephead are found year round in Florida and the gulf coast. They are less numerous in the keys and the lower east coast of Florida.
Areas with rocky bottom, up coastal creeks, rivers, and well off shore. Sheephead like areas with structure that have barnacles such as bridges, docks and reefs.
Food value:
Very good because of its diet of shellfish.
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SNOOK
Description
There are four kinds of Snook, Common Snook, Cuban Snook, Tarpon Snook, and the Little Snook. Some of them are called by different names.
The one thing you will notice first is the bright black lateral line running the full length down its side, from the gill plate into the tail. Note the long tapered or concave head and the protruding lower jaw. They have yellow fins, with a dark upper body and silver sides. Snook may vary in their coloration due to season and habitat. Snook in the bays can be darker, or have a more gold color on their sides.
Size
The average size Common Snook are three to 15 pounds, but have been caught up to 20 and 30 pounds. Snook of 40 pounds have been caught on both coast of Florida.
Snook is a terrific fighter making long hard runs, with spectacular leaps, and will tie your line around anything they can find.
Range/ habitat
The range is from central to south Florida on both coasts. Texas also has a population of Snook but the water temperature determines the range.
Food value: excellent.
Tackle/bait
Spinning, and baitcasting tackle are used mostly, but light saltwater gear works great with live bait. These fighting fish like surface plugs, bucktail, and soft jigs. I have caught my share on small spoons. I’ve had good luck just letting a big chunk of mullet or ladyfish lay on the bottom. I know this sounds like they will eat anything, but you have to know how to fish your bait.
Snook like structure, including pilings, rocks, over hanging limbs. They like the passes, and sometime moving up rivers into lakes.
Always check the regulations as there is a closed season, and bag limit.
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Size:
The average size is from 4 to 10 pounds, with the world record being just over 18 pounds. Their strike has been described as hooking a large stationary object. Their speed is remarkable. Their first run after the impact of their strike is long and persistent. Until the fish is seen it usually thought to be two or three times its size.
Tackle/bait, and method:
Trolled both on the surface and deep with medium trolling rigs is great. When it has been determined that the fish is from a school and not a stray, a switch to light spinning tackle will provide much fast, tough fun.
Range/habitat:
Most commonly in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic coast of Florida.
Food value:
Most people consider the food value to be poor, but when prepared correctly it can be good. I have had this fish prepared as if it were tuna salad and enjoyed it very much.
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Size:
This fish can reach 50 pounds; however some have been caught just over 70 pounds. The average size is between 5, and 15 pounds.
Tackle/bait, method:
Casting, trolling, still casting or sight fishing are the common methods.
When trolling the favorite tackle is heavy spinning and light to medium surf outfits. The best baits are small shad and shiners. When using artificial lures, bait casting or medium spinning rigs are most productive in bays and lakes. Try shad –type suspending lures, heavy spoons, diving topwater lures, and jigs with trailers like plastic worms or pork rind strips.
Range/habitat:
These fish like areas where deep running water hits shallow areas, sand bars, and eddies. Most striped bass fishing is done in freshwater below dams. They are also fished where rivers run into lakes and large bays. Stripe bass are known to be most common on the Atlantic, and Pacific Coasts. North Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Lake Pontchartrain Louisiana are good places on the Gulf coast. On the east coast of Florida the northern portion of the St. Johns River is known for its striped bass fishing.
Food value:
Very good, fine for baking.
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ATLANTIC CROKER
Size
These fish are small, usually less than one pound. They have been known to be as large as three pounds, but after fifty years of fishing the Florida coast I have seen very few that weighed over two pounds.
Tackle/bait
Ultra light tackle is fun with these little fish. They like live or dead shrimp. They don’t seem to care what you use, cut fish, or squid. As kid I use to catch them on bread, bacon, worms, or what ever I could find. I would use the remains of my fathers catch and load up on Croakers. In return dad would use my Croakers to load up on Snapper, and Grouper.
Food value: Very good.
They are an excellent panfish, and filets from larger fish are very tasty.
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COBIA
Size
Common sizes are from twenty to fifty pounds, and sometimes up to over one hundred pounds.
Look for a hard fight with long deep runs. These fish don’t give up easily.
Tackle/bait
Most fishermen use saltwater gear when using live bait. Surf rigs are good around piers and other obstructions, or when making long casts.
When in the open I like good old spinning or baitcasting rigs. Fly fishermen have good success targeting Cobia. Jigs from ½ oz to 2 oz, and large streamer flies are used much of the time.
Range, habitat
In the winter they stay in the warmer waters of south Florida, and migrate north in the spring.
Food value: excellent
Cobia ranges over the entire Gulf, and can be caught on the flats in the bays.
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PINFISH
Also known as Chofers.
Description:
Silvery background with several yellow to green horizontal stripes and often some dim vertical bars. There is a dark spot or patch behind the gill plate on the lateral line. Watch out for spines on dorsal and anal fins that are thin and sharp. Some say this is where they get their name. These fish have no teeth.
Size:
3”-6”, but do get up to a pound. The World record is 3lb, 5oz.
Tackle/bait:
Bits of shrimp, cut fish, bacon, even bread on very small hooks. Cane poles, or spinning gear will do the job just fine. Xan just spent a couple of hours catching one on almost every cast using small suspending lures.
These fish strike and fight aggressively. These would be a favorite game fish if they ever became any size. Pinfish are great live bait, and great fun for the kids to catch. A tube of shrimp and a cane pole will make for a fun day.
Range/habitat:
Small Pinfish stay over grass flats in warm temperate weather, and then move to deeper water as the temperature drops. The larger Pinfish tend to stay in deeper inshore holes and channels.
Food value:
Only the largest are okay for the table as they have many small bones.
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Description
Cobia are often mistaken for shark in the water. They have a dark leathery skin, with a darker stripe from the gills down the body to the tail, and a white underside. These fish are sleek in design with a number of pointed spines or little fins on their backs from the head to the dorsal fin.
Description
Most commonly called “Croaker,” they are in the same family as the Redfish, and Trout. The Croakers body is not as streamline as the Redfish or Trout, and are much smaller. They are silvery with a tinge of gold, and vertical black or dark brown strips on the upper body. The Croaker has barbels on the lower jaw.
DOLPHIN
Size
Schooling fish run from one pound to twenty pounds. Larger fish are either loners of pairs and run up to fifty to eighty pounds. Large females reach around forty pounds.
Tackle/bait
Saltwater trolling rigs with steel leader for the larger fish. Schooling fish can be managed with spinning, or baitcasting gear, but a good leader is needed.
The most popular way of fishing for these wonderful fighters is trolling. When a school is found they can usually be kept near the boat by keeping one hooked and in the water, and chumming also works. These fish will hit jigs or pretty much anything if you just throw it at them and retrieve it fast. When trolling watch for floating grass pads, or floating objects, as they like to hang out underneath.
Range/habitat
Dolphin live in the open seas and ranges the Gulf, and much east coast.
Food value: excellent
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Description
These fish are known by other names depending on where you are. On our Gulf coast they are called Dolphin, but in Mexico they are known as Dorado.
In Hawaii and many restaurants these fish are known as Mahi Mahi.
The males are known as Bull Dolphin and their heads are blunt, however the females have a more rounded head, and are called cows. These fish are some of the most colorful of all fish. They are bright blue and yellow, or green and yellow with blue or green spots speckling their bodies. Their dorsal fin runs from the head t to near the tail.
BLUEFISH
Size
The average size is about two to three pounds, but we catch plenty in the five pound range, and they are common to seven pounds. In the blue water the fish come much larger, into the fifteen and twenty pound range. Bluefish get as large as thirty pounds.
The fight is exciting for anyone, and kids will remember it for the rest of their lives. Expect long hard runs, and lots of jumps. A fight with a fifteen pound Bluefish on light tackle is often lost to the blue fish. Once landed stay away from their teeth, one look in the mouth and you will understand why.
Tackle/bait
Light spinning tackle is fine most of the time or surf tackle on the beach. When the big fish are making their runs maybe light trolling rigs with heavy leader works best, even steel leader. They hit live baitfish, cut fish, or cut squid, and they will get all over a lure being worked fast.
Range/habitat
The entire Gulf coast hosts the bluefish much of the year, however during the winter they tend to move to the Florida Keys. Off the beaches, and in the bays on deep grass flats are some of the favorite haunts of these fish’ mostly during spring, and fall.
Food value: Okay
Best eaten the same day it is caught. Bluefish is oily and the blood line must be removed with the skin.
Small fish are best for the table.
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Description
They can be a dark blue or dark green on the upper body, fading to silver on the sides and white on the underside. The tail is forked, and they have many very sharp teeth.
Description
The Pompano is silver with yellow on the underside. The dorsal fin is black, but the rest are yellow. The head is rounded.
Size
The average size is 1 pound, but 2 pounds are common. They can get up to eight pounds. These fish are great fighters
Tackle/bait
Use light tackle with eight to ten pound line. The best bait is live sand fleas, but shrimp and small (silver dollar size) crabs work well also.
Pompano will also strike a jig with a skirt, or buck tail.
Range/habitat
All of the Gulf coast.
Food value: excellent.
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REDFISH
Size
Most redfish run from 5 to 12 pounds, but fish up to 30 are not uncommon. These fighters get as large as 90 pounds.
Redfish are great fighters; stripping line and making you wonder if you will land it.
Tackle/bait
Light spinning, or baitcasting tackle is just fine for most redfish on the flats. Surf rods and light to medium saltwater rigs are good on the beach or around structure, or when off shore. Live baitfish, crabs, and shrimp, cut fish or squid. The best artificial baits are, spoons, soft plastic jigs, and top water plugs. Fly fishermen like large streamers.
Range/habitat
The entire Gulf and much of Northern Mexico. Redfish can be found most anywhere. They like jetties, oyster bars, rock outcrops, and grass flats, even up rivers a few miles. The larger fish like the surf most anywhere in the Gulf. Large fish move off shore to spawn, and schools of fish can be found in deep water.
Food value:
Trim the blood line out before you freeze this fish. I trim the blood line out of most every thing I catch.
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LADYFISH
Description
These long thin, silvery fish have a large forked tail.
Size
Most commonly one to two pounds. Three to four pounds are considered very large. They have been known to reach seven pounds.
The fight is much fun. You can expect good runs with lots of spectacular jumps. These fish are bloody, and once boarded commonly make a mess with their excrement.
Tackle/bait
Light tackle is great fun on these hard fighters. They hit cut bait, live bait fish, live shrimp, top water, and suspending lures. Xan and I like to target these fish just for the fun. An afternoon spent catching lady fish will make memories for a kid, and they will gain good fishing experience from it.
Range/habitat
Ladyfish range the entire Gulf coast, and can be found on grass flats, in deep holes, channels, or in the surf. They like to feed at night around lighted piers.
Food value: poor at best.
These fish are very boney and the meat is very soft.
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Description
Redfish are a copper color with a white underside. Different habitats can make a color change also. Some times they will be very pale in color. They almost always have a prominent spot with a white ring around it. Some fish have several spots. I have seen them with as many as twenty spots over their bodies.
SPECKLED TROUT
Description
These fish have a large yellow mouth with noticeably large sharp canine teeth. Their backs are dark with silvery sides. They are marked with black spots speckling their backs and fins. Their shape is much like that of a freshwater trout. They may have a golden tint to their backs in stained or brackish water.
Size
The average size is one to two pounds, but they often get up to five pounds.
In many places fish of eight to ten pounds are caught and the record is over seventeen pounds.
When hooked, a trout will fight for a short time at first, but soon gives up until it sees the boat. The second fight is usually short. The fight will almost always be on the surface, with lots of thrashing.
Range/habitat
Trout can be found in all the Gulf States and much of the East coast, plus Mexico. They are most often on the grass flats, in the surf on the beaches, and up rivers and creeks in the winter. I have caught Trout several miles up rivers in the heat of summer.
Food value: very good.
The meat is white flaky and tasty. Trout is good no matter how you cook it. We were up in Keaton Beach this year and forgot to take cooking supplies. All we had was Tobasco sauce, and a grocery bag full of key limes. We poached our filets in water, key lime juice, and Tabasco sauce, and a pinch of salt from a packet found in the console of the truck. That turned out to be one of the best trout dinners I have ever had.
When Xan was five he hooked a Speckled Trout almost as long as he was. The drag was set just right and the two of them fought each other for a good while. The fish made some good runs on the surface then turned and ran at and under the boat. Xan did what any good fisherman does, and put the rod tip in the water and kept fighting. He worked the fish back to his side and got a jump. There was much laughing and carrying on across the deck. The fish tried to make a run but Xan turned him. When it looked as if the fish had given it his all he charged the boat once again, this time running into the side of the boat. The most disappointing thing happened before anything could be done. When the fish hit the side of the boat it knocked the lure out of its mouth. I have been blamed for loosing that fish from that day forth, because “I” didn’t have the net ready. I hope one day Xan will catch the world record trout, and then maybe he will get off my back.
Light spinning and baitcasting tackle work great. Trout like shrimp and live baitfish best, but most are caught on jigs, spoons, and top water plugs.
Fly fishermen do well with popping bugs, and large streamer flies. . . . . . Back To Top . . . . .
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BONEFISH
Description
The Bonefish is a sleek, but heavy-bodied fish. They have a dark green back and their sides and underside are silvery. They have a pointed nose, with a receding lower jaw, and forked tail.
Size
Two to ten pounds is common but they do reach fifteen pounds.
Bonefish are one of the best fighting in shore game fish. When hooked expect long hard runs on the flats, and strong deep runs in deep water
Food value: questionable, as the name implies, “Bonefish”.
These fish are seldom eaten in the U.S., but are consumed in some places in the tropics.
Range: South Florida.
Whiting
Description
These fish are also known as Gulf Kingfish, Kingfish, and Gulf Whiting.They are silver all over with a black tipped tail, and slopped shoulders and head. They have chin barbells.
Size
They usually only reach about a pound but do reach as much as two pounds
Tackle/bait
Light spinning tackle is what I like. They like shrimp, cut fish, sand fleas, or they will take a jig.
Range/habitat
They are caught mostly in the surf and will come right up to the waters edge. The mouths of inlets from the Gulf, or the Atlantic are great places for kids to fish for them.
Food value: good
They sometimes have an iodine taste which can be removed by soaking in salty water, or simply by putting it in the refrigerator over night
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Tackle
The tackle most often used is spinning tackle with a seven to eight foot rod, and eight pound test line. Live shrimp is the bait of choice, but cut shrimp, and small crabs are also good. The best lures are 1/8 to ¼ oz. jigs with skimmer heads. Fly fishermen prefer an eight weight rod, and small flies.
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FLOUNDER
Description
There are a number of flounder, but we will only deal with the Gulf Flounder, and Southern Flounder.
Both fish have brown modeled skin. The Gulf Flounder has three distinct black spots which look like eyes. The Gulf Flounder has an elongated body while the Southern Flounder is shaped more like a frying pan.
Size
The Gulf Flounder averages about one to three pounds and can get up to about six pounds. The Southern Flounder is much larger and reaches eight to ten pounds they can get up to 20 pounds. A big flounder can give you a good pull but the fight isn’t all that great.
Food value: Great.
Tackle/bait
Light saltwater spinning tackle is good to take flounder. They like live fish for bait. Finger mullet is best, but will take shrimp, cigar minnows, and jigs with a grub on them. Some folks swear by a red head jig and a white grub. I have caught my limit day after day on soft plastics.
Range/habitat
Flounder like edges of grass beds, channels, and around rocks and pilings. I have had my best luck catching large flounders in passes. Look for them around beaches and in inlets. In the fall when they gather in passes just before they go out to the deep water,
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