Fish Species Gulf of Mexico fishing charters

  Red Grouper

Other Names :Red GrouperRange & Habitat :This grouper is most common in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, becoming less common westward, until only stragglers are found west of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Within its range, it is found in 30 to 400 feet of water. The red grouper is not oriented towards high-profile bottom structure, but seems to prefer hard or rock bottoms encrusted with living organisms (live bottom).Identification & Biology :The red grouper is a rusty-red or brownish-red color with lighter blotches and small white spots scattered on the sides. The second dorsal spine is the longest in the fin, and no notch exists in the fin membrane between the second and third spine. Like other groupers, the red grouper is a protogynous hermaphrodite. All begin their lives as females and at 18 to 26 inches long, they turn into males. Some begin spawning at the relatively early age of 4 years old. Maximum age is at least 25 years. Red grouper ambush their prey — crabs, shrimp, lobsters, squid, octopuses, and fishes.Size :This fish will grow to 50 pounds, but most catches are 20 pounds or less. All the larger fish are males.Food Value :Excellent.

  Little Tunny

Other Names :Bonito, Little Tuna, False Albacore, Spotted Bonito, Blue Albacore, Little TunnyRange & Habitat :This fish is distributed Gulfwide in blue and green water at all depths. It comes closer to shore than any other tuna species.Identification & Biology :This fish has a “tuna-shaped”, but streamlined body. The back is steel blue to dark blue in color and has a patch of wavy lines on the rear part of the back. The belly is very white and has several dark spots on each side between the pectoral and pelvic fins. No other species with a back-patch of wavy or mottled lines has these spots, although the spots may be hard to see on some fish. The closest look-alike to the little tunny is the less common Atlantic bonito. Besides lacking the belly spots, the patch of wavy lines on the back of the Atlantic bonito extends further forward, to a point equal to the front of the dorsal fin. In the little tunny, the patch of lines begins at a point about halfway back from the beginning of the fin.

Little tunny are a strongly schooling species that can form schools nearly a mile long. When a large school is actively feeding, they are very noisy, keeping the water splashing and foaming. They feed most heavily on fishes such as herrings, sardines and scads, but they will also readily take squid and crustaceans. They are fast-growing, but short-lived fish. At one year of age and 14 inches, they are mature enough to spawn, which takes place offshore in waters over 100 feet deep. Little tunny seldom live over 5 years.Size :Little tunny average 10-12 pounds, but are not rare over 20 pounds.Food Value :Good; better than its reputation, but because of the very red flesh, they are seldom eaten.

  Tripletail

Other Names :Blackfish, Drift Fish, Buoy Fish, TripletailRange & Habitat :The tripletail is found Gulfwide in all offshore waters and occasionally in saline bays. It is a surface or near-surface fish, very often found near floating debris or seaweed, pilings, and buoys.Identification & Biology :The body of this fish is almost as broad as it is long, giving it an almost square side profile. Color is a mottled brown or olive above, shading to olive-yellow below. The head is dish-shaped, and the elongated rear lobes of the dorsal and anal fin, combined with the tail fin, give the fish the appearance of having three tails.

Tripletail are passive, ambush predators often found floating lazily on their side near floating objects and seaweed, pilings, and buoys. When prey is sighted they move with lightning speed to strike it. When they take a hook, they give good account of themselves, being dogged fighters. Tripletails appear to be migratory, virtually disappearing from northern Gulf of Mexico waters between November and March. While tripletails are not rare, they are abundant nowhere. It is known that they can live up to 10 years, grow fast, and can breed by one year of age. Males all mature before they are one year old and still under 12 inches long. Females mature before their second birthday with some mature at under 18 inches. By 21 inches, all are mature.

Tripletail in the Gulf spawn from May through September, with a peak in July, although males will be found "running ripe" from May through September. During the 3-month period, females may spawn once every 3 to 5 days, or 18 to 31 times per season. Average-sized females of 25 inches will produce 4,619,866 to 7,956.429 eggs per year. Smaller fish produce less eggs and larger fish will produce more eggs. Spawning appears to take place well offshore of the outer continental shelf.

Tripletail almost exclusively eat fishes, including thread herring, menhaden, butterfish, spot, anchovies, and croakers.Size :Although tripletails can grow to over 40 pounds, most average under 15 pounds.Food Value :Excellent

Lane Snapper

 Other Names :Candy Snapper, Lane SnapperRange & Habitat :Truly a Gulfwide species, the lane snapper is found on all types of bottoms, from nearshore coastal waters, out to over 600 feet deep. Hard bottom or high profile structure is not necessary for its occurrence.Identification & Biology :The body is a vivid rosy-pink color, shading to silver on the belly with 8 to 10 horizontal bright yellow bars on each side. The body also has lighter vertical bars. A single large black spot is found on each side above the lateral line, but below the rear half of the dorsal fin. Lane snappers feed most heavily at night on small creatures such as anchovies, scad, crabs, shrimp, mollusks, and worms. Lane snappers are small fish that grow rapidly the first 5-7 years. In the Gulf, they reach 8 inches, the minimum legal size, at slightly over 1 year old. Lane snappers are known to live to 17 years old.Size :Usually under 2 pounds, but can reach 5 pounds.Food Value :Excellent