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| Description: terminal mouth; slender body; small
scales; last dorsal ray not elongated; head small and pointed. Similar fish: juvenile tarpon, Megalops atlanticus. |
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| Where found: INSHORE fish, in bays and estuaries;
occasionally enters freshwater, occurring in tidal pools and canals; often forms large
schools and harasses bait at the surface. Size: 2 to 3 pounds |
Remarks: known to spawn OFFSHORE; ribbon-like
larvae very similar to Albula and Megalops, peaking in fall; adults feed
predominantly on fish and crustaceans; leaps when hooked. Florida record 4 lbs., 10 ozs. |
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| Description: last ray of dorsal fin extended into
long filament; one dorsal fin; back 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. Similar species: (as juveniles) ladyfish, Elops saurus. |
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| Where found: primarily INSHORE fish, although adult
fish spawn OFFSHORE where the ribbon-like larval stage of the fish can be found. Size: most angler catches 40 to 50 pounds. |
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; juveniles commonly found in fresh water; can breathe
air at the surface; feeds mainly on fish and large crustaceans. Florida record 243 lbs. |
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