Biloxi MS Common Types of Fish Caught
Family Carcharhinidae: REQUIEM SHARK.
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
Description: long and flattened snout; white trailing edge of pectoral; black-edged dorsal and caudal fins, especially when young; may have small whitish spots on sides; furrows in lips at the corners of the mouth; outer margin of teeth notched; second dorsal fin originates over middle of anal fin; brown to olive-gray in color with white underside; slender body.
Family Carangidae, CREVALLE JACK
Caranx hippos
Description: color bluish-green to greenish-gold back and silvery or yellowish belly; soft dorsal and anal fins almost identical in size; prominent black spot on operculum (gill cover); black spot at the base of each pectoral fin; no scales on throat.
Family Sciaenidae, WHITE TROUT
Cynoscion nothus
Description: pale straw colored above, silvery sides and white below; no distinctive pigmentation, although faint diagonal lines may be present on upper body; 8 to 9 rays in the anal fin; large eyes; short snout; one or two prominent canine teeth usually present at tip of upper jaw; lower half of tail longer than upper half.
Family Sciaenidae, RED DRUM
Sciaenops ocellatus
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 openng downward; scales large
Family Sciaenidae,BLACK DRUM
Pogonias cromis
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 cobblestone-like teeth capable of crushing oysters; scales large.
Family Sciaenidae, SPOTTED SEA
TROUT
Cynoscion nebulosus
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 fin; one or two prominent canine teeth usually present at tip of upper jaw.
Family Serranidae, GROUPER
Mycteroperca microlepis
Description: 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.
Family Scombridae, SPANISH MACKEREL
Scomberomorous maculatus
Description: color of back green, shading to silver on
sides, golden yellow irregular spots above and below lateral
line; front of dorsal fin black; lateral line curves gently to
base of tail.
Family Sparidae, SHEEPHEAD
Archosargus probatocephalus
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 barbells on lower jaw; strong and sharp spines on dorsal and anal fins.
Family Bothidae, LEFTEYE FLOUNDER
Paralichthys albigutta
Description: body color brown, its shade depending
on color of bottom, with numerous spots and blotches; 3
prominent eye-like spots forming a triangle; one spot on lateral
line, one above, one below; numerous white spots scattered over
body and fins (albigutta, white-spotted); strong canine-like
teeth; caudal fin in shape of wedge, its tip in the middle.
Family Scombridae, KING MACKEREL
Scomberomorous cavalla
Description: color of back iridescent bluish green; sides silvery, streamlined body with tapered head; no black pigment on front of dorsal fin; lateral line starts high and drops sharply below the second dorsal fin; young fish often have yellow spots.
Family Rachycentridae, COBIA
Rachycentron canadum
Description: long, slim fish with broad depressed head; lower jaw projects past upper jaw; dark lateral stripe extends through eye to tail; first dorsal fin comprised of 7 to 9 free spines; when young, has conspicuous alternating black and white horizontal stripes.
Family Lutjanidae, RED SNAPPERS
Lutjanus campechanus
Description: color pinkish red over entire body,
whitish below; long triangular snout; anal fin sharply pointed;
no dark lateral spot.