Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Description: chin without barbels; copper- bronze body, lighter shade in clear waters; one to many spots at base of tail (rarely no spots); mouth horizontal and opening downward.
Where Found: juvenilies are inshore fish, migrating out of the estuaries at about 30 inches
(4 years) and joining the spawning population offshore.
Size: one of 27 inches weighs about 8 pounds
Remarks: spawning occurs from August to November in nearshore waters; sudden cold snaps may kill red drum in shallow waters; feeds on crustaceans, fish and mollusks; lives 20 years or more.
Remarks: slow grower, matures at 7 to 13 years of age; spawning occurs between May and September; female may lay more than 12 million eggs; can tolerate wide range of salinity; commonly found in fresh water; can breathe air at the surface; feeds mainly on fish and large crustaceansDescription: last ray of dorsal fin extended into long filament; one dorsal fin; dark blue to green or greenish black, shading into bright silver on the sides; may be brownish gold in estuarine waters; huge scales; mouth large and points upward.
Where Found: primarily inshore fish, although adult fish spawn offshore
Size: most angler catches 40 to 50 pounds. Florida record is 243 pounds.
Description:basic silvery color, with 5 or 6 distinct vertical black bands on sides; not always the same on both sides; prominent teeth, including incisors, molars, and rounded grinders; no barbels on lower jaw; strong and sharp spines on dorsal and anal fins
Where Found: Inshore species around oyster bars, seawalls and in tidal creeks; moves nearshore in late
winter and early spring for spawning, gathering over debris, artificial reefs, and around navigation markers.
Size: Inshore 1 to 2 pounds offshore common to 8 pounds
Remarks: feeds on mollusks and crustaceans fiddler crabs and barnacles; famed nibblers.
Size: common to 4 pounds on west coast, larger on east coast.
Remarks: matures during first or second year and spawns inshore from March through November, often in association with seagrass beds; lives mainly in estuaries and moves only short distances; adults feed mainly on shrimp and small fish.
Description: Dark gray or green above, with sky-blue tinges shading to silvery and white below; numerous distinct round black spots on back, extending to the dorsal fins and tail; black margin on posterior of tail; no barbels; no scales on the soft dorsal; one or two prominent canine teeth usually present at tip of upper jaw.
Where Found: inshore and/or nearshore over grass, sand and sandy mud buttons; move into slow moving or still, deep waters in cold weather.
Description: color bluish-gray or green above. Shading to silver on sides, with indistinct horizontal black barrings, white below; fins lightly scaled at base, unscaled above; blunt nose and small mouth.
Where Found: Inshore
Size: roe mullet common to 3 pounds know to reach 12 pounds in aquariums.
Remarks:adults migrate offshore in large schools to spawn; juveniles migrate inshore at about 1 inch in size, moving far up tidal creeks; frequent leapers; feeds on algae, detritus, and other tiny marine forms.
Size: common to 30 pounds
Remarks: largest member of the drum family; spawns nearshore in winter and early spring; feeds on oysters, mussels, crabs, shrimp, and occasionally fish; longevity to 35 or more years.
Description: high arched back; 10 to 14 pairs of chin barbels; gray or black colored body in adults; young have 4 to 6 vertical bars; has coblestone- like teeth capable of crushing oysters; scales large.
Where Found: Inshore fish common to bays and lagoons; bottom dweller often found around oyster beds also offshore.
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