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Barracuda
(Sphyraena barracuda)
A distinctive and fierce-looking fish, the Great Barracuda grows much larger than the related Pacific barracuda. These fish are distinguished by the long, slender body, large eyes, pointed snout, and impressive set of teeth, similar to the freshwater northern pike. They are bluish-gray in color with silver bellies and black spots towards the tail. It has a large, protruding lower jaw, which is effective in displaying a number of the barracuda’s lower teeth.
Great barracuda are notorious strikers and put up a good fight on relatively light tackle. It’s not difficult to lure a barracuda into following a bait or lure to the boat; getting one to strike anywhere near the boat can be challenging. Therefore, anglers often cast at long distances in hopes to get an early strike. Dead or live baitfish work well, but barracuda can also be caught on a number of artificial lures, such as plugs, spoons, or trolling feathers.
Black Grouper
(Mycteroperca bonaci)
Black grouper have the typically stout body and large mouth of the grouper family. Like many bottom fish, black groupers can be a variety of colors including olive, gray or reddish brown to black. There are dark gray rectangular markings and brassy blotches on the side and back.
Black grouper are excellent fighters and food fish, although their flesh can occasionally cause ciguatera, a potentially fatal toxin to humans that is commonly acquired from eating reef fish. Large baitfish such as blue runner, snappers, bonito and mullet are used to lure black grouper, though jigs and jigging spoons are also used, especially when tipped with natural bait. These should be fished on the bottom, especially right on top of reefs.
Yellowtail Snapper
(Ocyurus chrysurus)
Yellowtail snapper have slender, streamlined bodies with a prominent yellow stripe that starts at the snout and broadens as it runs to the tail. They are blue, olive or violet above the lateral line and silver to white below with small red and yellow stripes. The entire body is covered with sporadic yellow patches.
Although small, these fish fight hard for their size and relatively light tackle is preferred. The yellowtail snapper has a small mouth and are not hooked easily, so small lures and bait hooks are most effective. Angling success is often improved when fishing at night, when the fish typically feed.
Mutton Snapper
(Lutjanus Analis)
Mutton snapper are medium-sized member of the snapper family with a torpedo-shaped body distinguished by a high, sloping back. They vary greatly in color and can be orange, red or silver-green. Red coloring is more pronounced in larger mutton, which are often confused with the red snapper.
The best time to fish for mutton snapper is summer, and anglers often find large schools at night during full moon phases. Depth finders, liquid crystal graphs and other electronics are often used to find large concentrations of mutton snapper. Mutton snapper are known as strong fighters. Once hooked, they make long runs toward deep water, wrecks or reefs. They use their broad sides to generate strong resistance.
Red Snapper
(Lutjanus campechanus)
The body of the red snapper is deep and compact. The head and upper body are pink to brick red in color, with a silver and white lower body. The tail sometimes can have a dark outer edge.
The combination of good fighting ability and excellent eating quality make red snapper one of the most popular saltwater fish for recreational anglers and especially commercial fishermen. This had led to reduced populations and restricted harvest in many areas.
Angling efforts usually concentrate on deep bottoms around oil rigs, shipwrecks and reefs. Relatively heavy tackle is often needed to handle the heavy sinker weights required to get bait to the bottom. Lines up to 50-pound class and 8- to 16-ounce sinker weights are common. Fishing can be done from an anchored boat or while drifting.
King Mackerel
(Scomberomorus cavalla)
King mackerel, most commonly referred to as “kingfish,” are the largest of the mackerel family. They are swift and powerful swimmers, demonstrated by dramatic jumps from the water. Typical coloration is dark gray to gray-green to blue-green on the back, with a silver hue on the sides, fading to a white or silver belly.Kings have a distinct lateral line, which begins to curve downward at the second dorsal fin.
This species is an extremely popular sportfish because of long, strong runs when hooked that can be repeated several times during the battle and include occasional leaps from the water. A variety of techniques may be employed and commonly include trolling, chumming, drifting, still fishing and surf fishing.
Greater Amberjack
(Seriola dumerili)
The greater amberjack is the largest of the jack species, as well as the most sought after. They take their name from the amber colored stripe that runs along the sides of their body. They are probably the most widely recognized jack species in the Atlantic because of their close proximity to the major population centers along the Atlantic coast of the United States.
As the largest of the jack family, greater amberjack are a favored game fish by many anglers. They have a reputation for fighting that nearly matches that of tuna, and some anglers will feel the physical effects of fighting an amberjack for some time. Amberjack hit a bait or lure very aggressively and there is seldom a doubt that a strike has occurred. Once hooked, they are strong fighters who can swim very fast and make deep runs. And once a school is found, the action can be non-stop.
Red Grouper
(Epinephelus morio)
A member of the sea bass family, the coloration of red grouper varies with the conditions of their environment. Most often they are a dark red-brown color with a pinkish tinge below. Like Nassau grouper, they may have blotches irregularly scattered on the sides. The soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins have a blackish or bluish tinge. The eyes are surrounded by small black spots. The lining of the mouth is noticeable because of its bright scarlet to orange color.
Red grouper are a popular sport fish in areas where they are found, though their fighting reputation is ordinary at best. However, some reach 25 to 35 pounds in weight. Bottom fishing, drift fishing and trolling techniques are all used in pursuit of red grouper. They key to finding these loner fish is to present a bait or lure near the bottom of the water in the vicinity of their hiding place. This may mean fishing depths of more than 100 feet.
This site is dedicated to my beautiful little boy Colton, who may be gone from my world physically, but will be in my heart, soul, and on my boat with me....Forever.
And to my grandma, who let me chase my dreams and always gave me time to catch
"just one more."
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