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Goliath Grouper or Jewfish
Epinephelus itajara
900 lbs.
Head and fins covered with small black spots; irregular dark and vertical bars present on the sides of body; pectoral and caudal fins rounded; first dorsal fin shorter than and not separated from second dorsal; adults huge, up to 800 pounds; eyes small.
Warsaw Grouper
Epinephelus nigritis
580 lbs.
Warsaw groupers spend their growing years in bays, and around jetties, artificial reefs and offshore oil platforms. Once they’re big enough, they move to the snapper banks where the really big groupers sometimes frighten divers. You’d be scared too if you saw a five-foot-long, 100-pound fish staring you in the face.
Yellowfin Grouper
Mycteroperca venenosa
28 lbs.
Color highly variable greenish olive or bright red with longitudinal rows of darker black blotches over entire fish; outer one third of pectoral fins bright yellow; lower parts of larger fish with small bright red spots.
Yellowmouth Grouper
Mycteroperca interstitialis
30 lbs.
Color tan or brown with darker spots, or a network of spots, fused into lines; distinct yellow wash behind the jaws; yellow around the eyes; outer edges of fins yellowish.
Red Grouper
Epinephelus morio
50 lbs.
Color brownish red; lining of mouth scarlet-orange; blotches on sides in unorganized pattern; second spine of dorsal fin longer than others; pectoral fins longer than pelvic fins; squared off tail; margin of soft dorsal black with white at midfin; black dots around the eyes.
Gag
Mycteroperca microlepis
64 lbs.
Brownish gray in color with dark worm-like markings on sides; strong serrated spur at bottom margin of preopercle, less noticeable in large specimens; fins dark, with anal and caudal having white margin. Often confused with black grouper; tail of gag is slightly concave, black is square; gag has white margin on anal and caudal fins, black does not; under 10 pounds, gag’s spur on preopercle is distinctive, where black is gently rounded.
Nassau Grouper
Epinephelus striatus
55 lbs.
Color light background with brown or red-brown bars on sides; stripe in shape of tuning fork on forehead; third spine of dorsal longer than second ; pelvic fins shorter than pectorals; black dots around the eyes; large black saddle on caudal peduncle.
Black Grouper
Mycteroperca bonaci
180 lbs.
Olive or gray body coloration with black blotches and brassy spots; gently rounded preopercle. OFFSHORE species; adults associated with rocky bottoms, reef, and drop off walls in water over 60 feet deep; young may occur INSHORE in shallow water
Tiger Grouper
Mycteroperca tigris
40 lbs.
Solitary carnivore lurks in wrecks, reef shadows, or ledges; draws prey into gullet by
powerful suction from opening large mouth; swallows prey whole after holding it in small rasp like teeth that cover the jaws, tongue and palate; grouper are hermaphroditic and begin life as females, then change to males with maturity; wary
Graysby
Epinephalus cruentatus
5 lbs.
Solitary carnivore lurks in wrecks, reef shadows, or ledges; draws prey into gullet by powerful suction from opening large mouth; swallows prey whole after holding it in small rasp-like teeth that cover the jaws, tongue and palate; grouper are hermaphroditic and begin life as females and change to males with maturity.
Coney
Epinephalus fulvus
6 lbs.
Is most often identified for its outslung jaw and distinctly spotted color phases. Resembling Edward G. Robinson, the groupers’ pouting mouth hides rows of very sharp teeth used to consume crustaceans and other fishes. These fish are masters of camouflage, with the ability to change colors at will, but they are also adept at maneuvering from danger. Some groupers have been clocked from a standing position to full speed in 1/40th of a second!
Red hind
Epinephelus guttatus
6 lbs.
Solitary carnivore lurks in wrecks, reef shadows, or ledges; draws prey into gullet by powerful suction from opening large mouth; swallows prey whole after holding it in small rasp like teeth that cover the jaws, tongue
and palate; grouper are hermaphroditic and begin life as females, then change to males with maturity; this fish is also called
a “Speckled Hind” or “Strawberry Grouper”
Rock hind
Epinephelus adscensionis
4 lbs.
Solitary carnivore lurks in wrecks, reef shadows, or ledges; draws prey into gullet by powerful suction from opening large mouth; swallows prey whole after holding it in small rasp like teeth that cover the jaws, tongue and palate; grouper are hermaphroditic and begin life as females, then change to males with maturity; drift near bottom with
tail down.
School Master
Lutjanus apodus
5 lbs
Color olive gray on upper sides with yellow tinge, sometimes with reddish tinge around head; long triangular snout; eight pale vertical bars on the side of the body; yellow fins; blue stripe below eye, becoming interrupted in adults; no dark lateral spot.
Cubera Snapper
Lutjanus cyanopterus
125 lbs.
Color dark brown or gray, may have a reddish tinge; broad-based triangular tooth patch on roof of mouth with a posterior extension; despite its specific name, which translates to “blue-fin,” the fins have only a slight tinge of blue; canine teeth in both jaws very strong; one pair of canines enlarged and visible even when mouth is closed.
Gray Snapper
Lutjanus griseus
16 lbs.
Color dark brown or gray with reddish or orange spots in rows along the sides; dark horizontal band from snout through eye (young only); two conspicuous canine teeth at front of upper jaw; dorsal fins have dark or reddish borders; no dark spot on side underneath dorsal fin.
Mutton Snapper
Lutjanus analis
27 lbs.
Color olive green on back and upper sides, all fins below the lateral line having reddish tinge; bright blue line below eye, following contour of operculum; anal fin pointed; small black spot below dorsal fin; V-shaped tooth patch on.
Red Snapper
Lutjanus campechanus
46 lbs.
Color pinkish red over entire body, whitish below; long triangular snout; anal fin sharply pointed; no dark lateral spot. OFFSHORE on the continental shelf, more plentiful off the panhandle than in south or middle Florida.
Dog Snapper
Lutjanus jocu
30 lbs.
Color brown with a bronze tinge, lighter on sides; canine teeth very sharp, one pair notably enlarged, visible even when mouth is closed; in adults, pale triangle and a light blue interrupted line below the eye; no dark spot on body underneath dorsal fin.
Yellowtail Snapper
Ocyurus chrysurus
8 lbs.
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.
Hogfish Hog Snapper
Lachnolaimus maximus
25 lbs.
A colorful member of the wrasse family, Labridae, the hogfish is identified by its dorsal fin, the first three spines of which are greatly elongated and thickened. The tips of both dorsal and anal fins are pointed. The hogfish’s thick lips protrude slightly, and its forehead curves steeply above the mouth. Although coloration is variable in this species, males always tend to be more intense in hue than females. Hogfishes feed on mollusks, crabs and sea urchins.
Spanish Hogfish
Bodianus rufus
1 lbs.
Many other wrasses have lifetime professions as parasite cleaners. However, Spanish hogfish only pursue this occupation as juveniles; when they mature their diet changes to crabs, sea urchins and molluscs.
Cuban Hogfish
Bodianus sp
1/2 lbs.
A brightly colored, active wrasse, this hogfish grows to 10” and is potentially aggressive towards small fish and crustaceans. This hogfish often will pick up a piece of gravel then spit it out, catch it, and do it again. When tankmates express an interest in the object, the hogfish quickly snatches it away.
Spanish Grunt
3 lbs.
Haemulon macrostomum
Spanish Grunt is also known as striped grunt, gray grunt, streaked grunt and sow grunt. The Spanish Grunt pictured above was photographed in the Florida Keys. Spanish Grunts range from southern Florida to Brazil.They are easily identified by the distinctive yellowish area between the dorsal fin and the uppermost stripe.The Spanish Grunt is only of minor importance commercially and is occasionally found in aquariums. Mostly the large public aquariums.
They are known to eat various crustaceans and sea urchins that they find in the reef enviroments and grass beds that they call home and they are known to spawn in May and June. Although this eating and spawning data is probably not all inclusive.
Bluestriped Grunt
Haemulon sciurus
1 lbs.
This grunt is common in mangroves, reefs, and seagrass beds at depths to 98.5 feet (30m). Adults form small groups over coral and rocky substrates, especially near drop offs. The juveniles are abundant in shallow turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) beds. Bluestriped grunts are known to occasionally face and push one another with open mouths. Although the purpose for this behavior is unknown, it is believe to be related to either courtship or territory defense.
The common fish name “grunt” is derived from the grunt-like sound produced when it grinds the teeth deep within its throat. The sound is amplified by the taut air bladder that acts as a resonator. Grunts are closely related to snappers, but are generally smaller and have deeply notched tails.
White Grunt
Haemulon plumieri
1.5 lbs.
Description: body color light bluish-gray, head with horizontal blue stripes, white underbelly; black blotch on preopercle; margin of each scale bronze; large bright orange mouth; scales above lateral line larger than scales below lateral line. Found from Shore to the outer reef edge or on offshore hard bottom to 115 feet; most abundant in water less than 80 feet deep.Remarks: audible grunting is produced by grinding of the pharyngeal teeth, with air bladder acting as amplifyer; spawning occurs on offshore hard bottoms or reefs from May through June; feeds on crustaceans, mollusks and small fishes.
French Grunt
Haemulon flavolineatum
1 lbs.
The French grunt occurs in the Western Atlantic from Bermuda, South Carolina (USA), northern Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Brazil. It occurs in large schools on rocky and coral reefs to depths of 60 m (197 ft). Juveniles are abundant in nearshore seagrass beds. Maximum reported size is 30.0 cm (11.9 in) TL (male).
Small mouth Grunt
Haemulon chrysargyreum
1lbs.
Juveniles feed in beds of Turtle Grass, while adults are most typically found during the day around Elkhorn coral and other reef corals. At night schools of Smallmouth Grunts venture into open water to feed on plankton and small mollusks and crustaceans.This species is found in reefs in the Bahamas and in Atlantic coastal areas from Brazil north to southern Florida.
Cottonwick
Haemulon melanurum
1 lbs.
Broad black area above line from dorsal fin origin to tip of lower caudal fin lobe, including upper part of caudal peduncle and both lobes of tail. Striking colored species, with a silvery body, black back and tail. With narrow yellow stripes, the broadest mid-lateral.Biology:Inhabits clear inshore and offshore reefs and adjacent grass beds, often in schools. Feeds on crustaceans.
Porkfish
Anisotremus virginicus
2.5 lbs.
Body striped yellow and silvery blue; fins yellow, 2 black bars: one from nape through eye to mouth, another from origin of dorsal fin to base of pectoral fin. Only grunt fish in the Caribbean with two vertical black bars and yellow stripes. Biology:Inhabits reefs and rocky bottoms. Feeds at night on mollusks, echinoderms, annelids, and crustaceans. Young pick parasites from the bodies of larger fishes.
Ocean Trigger Fish
Canthidermis sufflamen
15 lbs.
Western Atlantic: Canada to Massachusetts (USA), Bermuda, and northern Gulf of Mexico to South America. Eastern Atlantic: St. Paul’s Rocks, Ascension, Cape Verde and St. Helena, Sao Tome Island. Dorsal spines (total): 3 - 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25 - 28; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 23 – 25. Soft dorsal and anal fins very elevated anteriorly, the longest rays nearly as long as head; caudal fin double-emarginate, brownish gray with a large dark brown spot at base of pectoral fins. Biology:Common near drop-offs of seaward reefs. Occasionally in shallow water. Solitary or in small groups in open water. Often associated with Sargassum. Feeds mainly on large zooplankton.
Queen Trigger Fish
Balistes vetula
10 lbs.
Eastern Atlantic: Ascension, Cape Verde, and Azores; ranges south to southern Angola. Western Atlantic: Canada to Massachusetts, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to southeastern Brazil. Dorsal spines (total): 3 - 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 29 - 32; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 27 – 29. Greenish or bluish gray on back, orange-yellow on lower part of head and abdomen, with two broad diagonal curved bright blue bands running from snout to below and in front of pectoral fins, the lowermost continuous with a blue ring around lips; a broad blue bar across caudal peduncle, and blue sub-marginal bands in median fins.Biology: Found over rocky or coral areas. May form schools, sometimes solitary over sand and grassy areas. Feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates. It preys on sea urchins by blowing water to overturn it and then attacks it where the spines are short. Excellent food fish but occasionally can cause intoxication due to the liver.
Black Durgon
Melichthys niger
2 lbs.
Eastern Pacific: Ryukyu and Ogasawara islands eastward to the Tuamoto Islands. Eastern Pacific: San Diego, California, USA to Malpelo Island, Colombia. Western Atlantic: Florida, USA and Bahamas to Brazil. Absent in Gulf of Mexico. Eastern Atlantic: St. Paul’s Rocks, St. Helena, Ascension Island, Rolas Island, and Cape Verde. São Tomé Island. Western Indian Ocean: Durban, Natal, South Africa. Uncommon in most areas but abundant around isolated oceanic islands.Dorsal spines (total): 3 - 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 30 - 35; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 28 – 31. A dark greenish-black triggerfish with purplish overtones. Pale blue lines along bases of soft dorsal and anal fins. Scales of rear part of body have prominent keels that form longitudinal ridges.
Biology: Inhabit clear seaward reefs. More common around oceanic islands. Found on inner and outer reef crests, usually near the slope or drop-off to deeper water, where in small but loose aggregations. Sometimes swim high above substrate feeding on zooplankton. Benthopelagic. Diet consists primarily of calcareous algae and zooplankton; also feed on phytoplankton. At Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, southeast Atlantic, groups of about 100 individuals join groups of spinner dolphins to feed on feces and vomits of the cetaceans when they congregate in a shallow bay for rest and social interactions. The postures a dolphin adopts prior to defecating or vomiting are recognized, and the fish begin to converge to the dolphin shortly before the actual voiding. Offal feeding may be regarded as a simple behavioral shift from plankton feeding to drifting offal picking.
Scrawled Filefish
Atlantic Spade fish
Yellow Goatfish
Spotted Goatfish
Jacknife fish
Highhat
Spotted drum
Trunkfish
Banded Butterflyfish
Spotfin Butterflyfish
Foureye Butterflyfish
Honey Damselfish
Yellowtail Damselfish
Sargeant Major
Blue Tang
Blue Tang Juvenile
Redband Parrotfish
Stoplight Parrotfish
Blue Parrotfish
Midnight Parrotfish
Bluehead Wrasse
Yellowhead Wrasse
Creole Wrasse
Blackbar Soldierfish
Squirrelfish
Dusky Squirrelfish
Bigeye
Glasseye Snapper
Harlequin Bass
Fairy Basslet
Barred Hamlet
Butter Hamlet
Indigo Hamlet
Blue Hamlet
Shy Hamlet
Rock Beauty
Queen Angelfish
Gray Angelfish
Gray Angelfish Juvenile
French Angelfish
French Angelfish Juvenile
Spotted Eagle Ray
Southern Stingray
Yellow Stingray
Green Moray Eel
