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Redbreast Sunfish(Lepomis auritus)
Common Names - redbelly, robin, yellowbelly sunfish, bream, river bream, longear sunfish, sun perch and redbreast bream.
Description - The redbreast is one of the brightest colored sunfishes. Males have yellow, orange or red breast, olive upper sides, blending into blue-tinged bronze on the lower sides and blue streaks on the cheek. Females are less colorful; their breasts are yellowish or pale red. The most distinguishing characteristic of this species is a long, narrow (no wider than the eye) extension of the gill cover. These flaps, which may reach a length of one inch or more, are entirely black.
Subspecies - There are no recognized subspecies. They are known to hybridize with other members of the sunfish family.
Range - The redbreast is found throughout central and northern Florida. It is the most dominant sunfish in such streams as the Oklawaha, Ochlockonee, Suwannee, and Santa Fe rivers. This species has been introduced into the Blackwater and Yellow rivers in northwestern Florida. They are also common in some lakes such as the Harris Chain and Starke Lake in Ocoee.
Habitat - Redbreasts inhabit sand-bottom areas as well as rocky areas of coastal-plain streams, rivers, and lakes. They frequently concentrate around boulders, limestone outcroppings, logs, aquatic vegetation, or in undercut tree roots.
Spawning Habits - They reproduce in typical sunfish fashion by constructing circular beds; but not clustered like bluegills, in water from one to three feet deep usually adjacent underwater objects such as stumps and snags. They often occupy beds that have been abandoned by other sunfishes. Spawning occurs from May through August when water temperatures range from 68 to 82 degrees. Males are the nest builders and guard the eggs and larvae for a short period after hatching. The number of eggs laid in a season ranges from about 1,000 to 10,000, varying with the age and size of the female.
Feeding Habits - The redbreast's diet is probably the most varied of any of the sunfishes. Principal food organisms are bottom-dwelling insect larvae, snails, clams, shrimp, crayfish, and small fish.
Age and Growth - Compared to some sunfish, redbreasts grow slowly. Redbreast reach six-inches in about two to three years. They seldom live beyond seven years and commonly reach a length of eight inches.
Sporting Qualities - Redbreasts are prized game fish and are caught on natural baits and artificial lures. They a good fighters and will bite on flies and small spinners, as well as worms, crickets, grasshoppers and small minnows. Unlike most sunfishes, redbreasts bite well at night. Fishing from a drifting or slowly powered boat is the best way to catch redbreasts, although angling from the bank can be productive. As a sport fish, specific bag and size limit regulations apply, and you can register a qualifying catch as part of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's "Big Catch" program.
Eating Quality - The sweet, flaky, white flesh is excellent eating. They are most often fried after dipping them in seasoned cornmeal or pancake batter.
World Record - 1 pound, 12 ounces, caught in the Suwannee River, Florida, in 1984.
State Record - 2 pounds, 1.25 ounces, caught in the Suwannee River, in 1988
Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS Ocyurus chrysurus
Description: back and upper sides olive to bluish with yellow spots; lower sides and belly with alternating narrow, longitudinal pink and yellow stripes; prominent midlateral yellow stripe begins at mouth and runs to tail, broadening as it passes the dorsal fins; caudal fin yellow and deeply forked; no dark lateral spot.
Similar Fish: none.
Where found: juveniles INSHORE on grassbeds and back reefs; adults NEARSHORE or OFFSHORE over sandy areas near reefs.
Size: common to 3 pounds.
*Florida Record: 7 lbs., 5 ozs.
Remarks: found mainly in tropical waters; spawns in midsummer; rarely exceeds 30 inches and 5 pounds in size; feeds on small fish and invertebrates.
* 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.
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.
Family Serranidae, SEA BASSES AND GROUPER Centropristis philadelphica
Description: color olive-brown or bronze, with dark blotches forming vertical bars; dark black blotch on middle of dorsal fin base; tip of lower jaw purplish; bright blue and orange stripes and markings on head and fins; fully scaled nape; tail tri-lobed in adults.
Similar Fish: bank sea bass C. ocyurus; other Centropristis.
Where found: OFFSHORE; differs from other sea basses in that it is often found on sandy or muddy bottoms.
Size: small species rarely more than 10 inches.
*Florida Record: n/a
Remarks: spawns January through March; young adults are predominently female, transforming into males as they grow older; maximum size about 10 inches.
* 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.
Family Bothidae, LEFTEYE FLOUNDERS Paralichthys albigutta
Description: body color brown, its shade depending on color of bottom, with numerous spots and blotches; 3 prominent eye-like spots forming a triangle; one spot on lateral line, one above, one below; numerous white spots scattered over body and fins (albigutta, white-spotted); strong canine-like teeth; caudal fin in shape of wedge, its tip in the middle.
Similar Fish: southern flounder, P. lethostigma (no eye-like spots; color pattern is key to distinguishing the two species).
Where found: INSHORE on sandy or mud bottoms, often ranging into tidal creeks; occasionally caught on NEARSHORE rocky reefs.
Size: common to 2 pounds, generally smaller than southern flounder.
*Florida Record: n/a
Remarks: hatches into usual fish form, but right eye migrates over to left side early in life; a bottom dweller; thought to spawn OFFSHORE; feeds on crustaceans and small 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.
Redbreast Sunfish(Lepomis auritus)
