Red Porgy

Family Sparidae

Description: the only American porgy with a rear nostril that is round (not slit-like); head and body silvery red, with many tiny blue spots

Size: to 91 centimeters (3 feet)

Where found: deeper part of continental shelf, but young occur in water as shallow as 18 meters (60 feet)

Red Snapper

Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS Lutjanus campechanus

Description: color pinkish red over entire body, whitish below; long triangular snout; anal fin sharply pointed; no dark lateral spot.

Similar Fish: vermilion snapper, R. aurorubens.

Where found: OFFSHORE on the continental shelf, more plentiful off the panhandle than in south or middle Florida.

Size: to 20 pounds.


*Florida Record: 46 lbs., 8 ozs.

Remarks: juveniles occur over sandy or mud bottoms and are often taken in shrimp trawls; adults may live more than 20 years, and attain 35 pounds or more; sexual maturity attained at age 2; spawns June to October; feeds on crustaceans and fish.

* The Florida records quoted are from the Department of Environmental Protection's printed publication, Fishing Lines and are not necessarily the most current ones. The records are provided as only as a benchmark.

Queen Snapper

Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS Etelis oculatus

Description: color of back and upper sides red; silvery body long and slender; dorsal fin distinctly notched; large eyes; caudal fin deeply forked; no dark lateral spot.

Similar Fish: other snappers.

Where found: OFFSHORE over rocky reefs of the continental shelf to 450 feet; young suspend at mid-depths.

Size: small species, usually less than 20 inches.


*Florida Record: n/a

Remarks: little is known, but it is reported that adults live at depths greater than 400 feet.

* The Florida records quoted are from the Department of Environmental Protection's printed publication, Fishing Lines and are not necessarily the most current ones. The records are provided as only as a benchmark.

Blackfin Snapper

Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS Lutjanus buccanella

Description: color generally red, with yellowish caudal, anal, and pelvic fins; distinctive and prominent dark comma-shaped blotch at the base of the pectoral fins, which gives the fish its common name; anal fin rounded; no black spot on side underneath dorsal fin.

Similar Fish: other snappers.

Where found: adults OFFSHORE near continental shelf.

Size: common to 20 inches, larger adults seeking deeper waters.


*Florida Record: n/a

Remarks: sometimes marketed as red snapper; feeds on smaller fishes.

* The Florida records quoted are from the Department of Environmental Protection's printed publication, Fishing Lines and are not necessarily the most current ones. The records are provided as only as a benchmark.

Blacknose Shark

Family Carcharhinidae

Description: The blacknose shark is a requiem shark of the family Carcharhinidae, found in subtropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean between latitudes 40° N and 37° S, from the surface to about 10 m. Its length is up to about 2 m.

Found: The blacknose shark is found on continental and insular shelves, mainly over sandy, shell, and coral bottoms. It feeds on small fishes, including pinfish (Sparidae) and porcupine fish, and is preyed upon by larger sharks. It is viviparous (with a yolk-sac placenta), with 3 to 6 young per litter. It performs a 'hunch' display, with back arched, caudal lowered and head raised, as a possible threat display when confronted by divers. Its flesh is utilized dried salted for human consumption.