See the Manatee Cam

Fish Identification

This is a list of fish commonly seen from the fish bowl at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Crevalle Jack ( Caranx hippos)
Family Carangidae, Jacks and Pompanos
Description: Color bluish-green to greenish-gold back and silvery or yellowish belly; soft dorsal and anal fins of same size; prominent black spot on operculum (gill cover); blackspot at the base of each pectoral fin.
Where Found: Common in both inshore and the open sea.
Size: usually 3 to 5 pounds

Remarks: tolerates a wide range of salinities; feeds mainly
on small fish; peak spawning occurs offshore from March through September.


Snook ( Centropomus undecimalis)

Remarks: spawns primarily in summer; will not tolerate water temperatures below 60 degrees; feeds on fish and larger crustaceans.

Family Centropomidae, Snooks
Description: distinct black lateral line; high, divided dorsal fin; sloping forehead; large mouth, protruding lower jaw; grows much larger than other snooks; pelvic fin yellow.
Where Found: from central Florida south, usually inshore in coastal and brackish waters, along mangrove shorelines, seawalls and bridges
Size: usually 5 to 8 pounds; can reach 30 pounds

Ladyfish ( Elops saurus)
Family Elopidae, Tarpons
Description: terminal mouth; slender body; small scales; last dorsal ray not elongated; head small and pointed
Where Found: inshore fish, in bays and estuaries; occasionally enters freshwater, occurring in tidal pools and canals
Size: usually 2 to 3 pounds
Remarks: know to spawn off shore; ribbon-like larvae, feeds on fish and crustaceans; leaps when hooked.

Gray Snapper / Mangrove snapper

Remarks: spawns late June through August; feeds on crustaceans and small fish.

(Lutjanus griseus)
Family Lutjanidae, Snappers
Description: color dark brown or gray with reddish or orange spots in rows along the sides; dark horizontal band from snout through eye; two conspicuous canine teeth at front of upper jaw;
Where Found: juveniles inshore in tidal creeks, mangroves, and grass beds; adults generally nearshore or offshore on coral or rocky reefs.
Size: offshore catches common 8 to 10 pounds


Permit ( Caranx hippos)
Family Carangidae, Jacks and Pompanos
Description: grayish blue-green on top of head and along the back; bright silvery sides; yellow on breast; elongated dorsal and anal fins; deep body with no scutes.
Where Found: offshore on reefs and wrecks in clear water along sand beaches and bays, inshore on grass flats, grass flats and in channels; most abundant in south Florida with smaller specimens in every coastal county
Size: common to 25 pounds

Redfish / Reddrum ( Sciaenops ocellatus)
Family Sciaenidae, Drums
Description: chin without barbels; copper- bronze body, lighter shade in clear waters; one to many spots at base of tail (rarely no spots); mouth horizontal and opening downward.
Where Found: juvenilies are inshore fish, migrating out of the estuaries at about 30 inches
(4 years) and joining the spawning population offshore.
Size: one of 27 inches weighs about 8 pounds

Remarks: spawning occurs from August to November in nearshore waters; sudden cold snaps may kill red drum in shallow waters; feeds on crustaceans, fish and mollusks; lives 20 years or more.

Tarpon ( Megalops atlanticus)
Remarks: slow grower, matures at 7 to 13 years of age; spawning occurs between May and September; female may lay more than 12 million eggs; can tolerate wide range of salinity; commonly found in fresh water; can breathe air at the surface; feeds mainly on fish and large crustaceans
Family - Elopidae, Tarpons
Description: last ray of dorsal fin extended into long filament; one dorsal fin; dark blue to green or greenish black, shading into bright silver on the sides; may be brownish gold in estuarine waters; huge scales; mouth large and points upward.
Where Found: primarily inshore fish, although adult fish spawn offshore
Size: most angler catches 40 to 50 pounds. Florida record is 243 pounds.

Sheepshead ( Archosargus probatocephalus)
Family Sparidae, Porgies
Description:basic silvery color, with 5 or 6 distinct vertical black bands on sides; not always the same on both sides; prominent teeth, including incisors, molars, and rounded grinders; no barbels on lower jaw; strong and sharp spines on dorsal and anal fins
Where Found: Inshore species around oyster bars, seawalls and in tidal creeks; moves nearshore in late
winter and early spring for spawning, gathering over debris, artificial reefs, and around navigation markers.
Size: Inshore 1 to 2 pounds offshore common to 8 pounds


Remarks: feeds on mollusks and crustaceans fiddler crabs and barnacles; famed nibblers.

Spotted Seatrout ( Cynoscion nebulosus)

Size: common to 4 pounds on west coast, larger on east coast.
Remarks: matures during first or second year and spawns inshore from March through November, often in association with seagrass beds; lives mainly in estuaries and moves only short distances; adults feed mainly on shrimp and small fish.

Family Sciaenidae, Drums
Description: Dark gray or green above, with sky-blue tinges shading to silvery and white below; numerous distinct round black spots on back, extending to the dorsal fins and tail; black margin on posterior of tail; no barbels; no scales on the soft dorsal; one or two prominent canine teeth usually present at tip of upper jaw.
Where Found: inshore and/or nearshore over grass, sand and sandy mud buttons; move into slow moving or still, deep waters in cold weather.

Striped (Black) Mullet ( Mugil cephalus)
Family Mugilidae, Mullets
Description: color bluish-gray or green above. Shading to silver on sides, with indistinct horizontal black barrings, white below; fins lightly scaled at base, unscaled above; blunt nose and small mouth.
Where Found: Inshore
Size: roe mullet common to 3 pounds know to reach 12 pounds in aquariums.

Remarks:adults migrate offshore in large schools to spawn; juveniles migrate inshore at about 1 inch in size, moving far up tidal creeks; frequent leapers; feeds on algae, detritus, and other tiny marine forms.


Black Drum (pogonias cromis)

Size: common to 30 pounds
Remarks: largest member of the drum family; spawns nearshore in winter and early spring; feeds on oysters, mussels, crabs, shrimp, and occasionally fish; longevity to 35 or more years.


Family Sciaenidae, Drums
Description: high arched back; 10 to 14 pairs of chin barbels; gray or black colored body in adults; young have 4 to 6 vertical bars; has coblestone- like teeth capable of crushing oysters; scales large.
Where Found: Inshore fish common to bays and lagoons; bottom dweller often found around oyster beds also offshore.


Remarks: feeds mainly on bottom-dwelling crabs, shrimp, small clams, and small fish.