Fish Identification Chart
This is a list of fish commonly seen from the fish bowl at the
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Family Carangidae, Jacks and Pompanos
Description: Color bluish-green to greenish-gold back and silvery or yellowish belly; soft dorsal and anal fins of same size; prominent black spot on operculum (gill cover); blackspot at the base of each pectoral fin.
Where Found: Common in both inshore and the open sea.
Size: usually 3 to 5 pounds
Description: Color bluish-green to greenish-gold back and silvery or yellowish belly; soft dorsal and anal fins of same size; prominent black spot on operculum (gill cover); blackspot at the base of each pectoral fin.
Where Found: Common in both inshore and the open sea.
Size: usually 3 to 5 pounds
Remarks: tolerates a wide range of salinities; feeds mainly
on small fish; peak spawning occurs offshore from March through September.
Remarks: spawns primarily in summer; will not tolerate water temperatures below 60 degrees; feeds on fish and larger crustaceans.
Description: distinct black lateral line; high, divided dorsal fin; sloping forehead; large mouth, protruding lower jaw; grows much larger than other snooks; pelvic fin yellow.
Where Found: from central Florida south, usually inshore in coastal and brackish waters, along mangrove shorelines, seawalls and bridges
Size: usually 5 to 8 pounds; can reach 30 pounds
Family Elopidae, Tarpons
Description: terminal mouth; slender body; small scales; last dorsal ray not elongated; head small and pointed
Where Found: inshore fish, in bays and estuaries; occasionally enters freshwater, occurring in tidal pools and canals
Size: usually 2 to 3 pounds
Description: terminal mouth; slender body; small scales; last dorsal ray not elongated; head small and pointed
Where Found: inshore fish, in bays and estuaries; occasionally enters freshwater, occurring in tidal pools and canals
Size: usually 2 to 3 pounds
Remarks: know to spawn off shore; ribbon-like larvae, feeds on fish and crustaceans; leaps when hooked.
Gray Snapper / Mangrove snapper
Remarks: spawns late June through August; feeds on crustaceans and small fish.
Family Lutjanidae, Snappers
Description: color dark brown or gray with reddish or orange spots in rows along the sides; dark horizontal band from snout through eye; two conspicuous canine teeth at front of upper jaw;
Where Found: juveniles inshore in tidal creeks, mangroves, and grass beds; adults generally nearshore or offshore on coral or rocky reefs.
Size: offshore catches common 8 to 10 pounds
Description: grayish blue-green on top of head and along the back; bright silvery sides; yellow on breast; elongated dorsal and anal fins; deep body with no scutes.
Where Found: offshore on reefs and wrecks in clear water along sand beaches and bays, inshore on grass flats, grass flats and in channels; most abundant in south Florida with smaller specimens in every coastal county
Size: common to 25 pounds
Remarks: feeds mainly on bottom-dwelling crabs, shrimp, small clams, and small fish.
FISH ILLUSTRATION BY DAINE ROME PEBBLES - FISH INFORMATION STATE OF FLORIDA FISHING LINES
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