Fish ID & Florida Regulations

One of Florida's most popular inshore targets. Copper-bronze body with a distinctive black spot near the tail. Found in estuaries, grass flats, and nearshore waters. Feeds on crabs, shrimp, and small fish.

Silver body with distinctive black spots. A staple of Northeast Florida inshore fishing, especially in the St. Johns River and ICW. Feeds aggressively on baitfish and shrimp.

Flat-bodied ambush predator with both eyes on one side. Found on sandy or muddy bottoms near structure. Lies motionless waiting for prey to pass overhead.

Highly prized sport fish with a distinctive black lateral line. Found around structure, docks, and inlets. Catch-and-release only during closed seasons. Requires a snook stamp.

Black and white striped with strong human-like teeth for crushing barnacles and crustaceans. Common around docks, bridges, and jetties year-round.

Large, deep-bodied fish with chin barbels used to detect food on the bottom. Juveniles have bold black vertical stripes. Adults are gray-silver. Makes a drumming sound with its swim bladder.

One of the most prized table fish in Florida. Deep-bodied, silver with yellow-orange tints on the belly and fins. Fast and hard-fighting for their size. Found in the surf and nearshore.

Similar to pompano but larger with a more pronounced forked tail and longer dorsal fin. A challenging and highly sought-after target. Often found tailing on flats and around wrecks.

The Silver King. One of the most spectacular sport fish in the world. Can exceed 200 lbs and leap 10 feet out of the water. Catch-and-release only in most situations. Requires a tarpon tag to harvest.

Reddish-brown with a darker stripe through the eye. Found around structure from docks to offshore reefs. Wary and line-shy — use light leader. Excellent table fare.

Similar to spotted seatrout but with smaller, less distinct spots and a more olive-green back. Less common in Florida than further north but caught in Northeast Florida waters.

Small, silver bottom-feeder with a single chin barbel. One of the most common surf fish in Northeast Florida. Easy to catch and excellent table fare. Great beginner species.

Fast, hard-fighting pelagic species. Silver with yellow-orange spots. Common nearshore and in the surf zone. Razor-sharp teeth — use a wire or heavy fluorocarbon leader.

Large, powerful pelagic fish. Silver with a lateral line that dips sharply near the pectoral fin. A top target for nearshore and offshore trolling. Wire leader required.

Dark brown with a white belly and distinctive flat head. Often found following rays, sharks, and buoys. Excellent table fare. One of the most exciting sight-fishing opportunities offshore.

Bright red with a pointed snout and sharp teeth. Found on offshore reefs and hard bottom. Subject to federal season restrictions — check NOAA for current season dates before targeting.

Brilliantly colored offshore species — blue-green and yellow with a blunt forehead. Fast growing, hard fighting. Found near floating debris, weed lines, and color changes.

Several shark species are commonly caught in Northeast Florida including Blacktip, Spinner, Bull, Bonnethead, and Nurse sharks. Regulations vary significantly by species — always check FWC and NOAA before targeting sharks.