Pigfish ((Hogfish) Orthopristis chrysoptera)
◎Coloration is grayish along the back fading to silver along the sides and a silvery white belly; brassy to bronze mottled marks are scattered over much of the body; fins tend to be a dull golden color; the first dorsal fin has distinct spines; the name derives from the grunting noise these fish make when removed from the water.
◎Similar Fish: Pinfish.
◎Size: up to 2 pounds; average size is 1/2 ~ 1 pound.
POLLOCK (Pollachius virens)
◎Long, tapered body features a head with a pointed snout, a plump midsection on most fish and a tapered rear; three distinct dorsal fins, a chin barbel and a forked caudal fin highlight the fin structure; coloration is bluish green to olive green along the back fading to a gray or greenish silver along the sides and a silvery belly.
◎Similar Fish: similar in color and shape to a bluefish; distinguisable by absence of teeth (bluefish are armed with sharp teeth), presence of three distinct dorsal fins (bluefish has two dorsal fins) and presence of a chin barbel (none on bluefish). Also, closely related to and similar in body shape and fin structure to Atlantic cod, but distinguishable by much more prominent chin barbel on cod and coloration (cod have many color phases and tend to exhibit much more color including brown and reddish or dark spots along the back and sides).
◎Size: up to 35 pounds, average size is 1 ~ 6 pounds.
POMPANO ((Florida Pompano) Trachinotus carolinus)
◎Rounded, flattened body with a small, underslung mouth; deeply forked tail and a small pectoral fin; coloration is greenish gray with some yellowish hints along the back fading to silver sides and a silvery yellow belly.
◎Size: up to 7 pounds; average size ranges from 1/2 ~ 2 pounds.
RED DRUM ((Channel Bass, Redfish, Puppy Drum, Spottail Bass) Sciaenops ocellatus)
◎ Copper to bronze colored back, fading to a white belly; may be more silvery in appearance in clear or ocean waters; one to several ocellated spots occur at the base of the tail; caudal fin is slightly lunate and pectoral fin is rounded; large scales and underslung jaw.
◎Similar Fish: closely related and similar in appearance to Black Drum; distinguishable by lack of chin barbels (which are present on black drum), rounded shape of pectoral fin, ocellated spot or spots at base of tail, slightly lunate caudal fin, and generally more streamlined body shape.
◎Size: up to 100 pounds; average size is 10 ~ 50 pounds; small fish, called puppy drum, are found in river estuaries,bays, and coastal waters and range from 8 ~ 20 inches in length.
RED HAKE ((Ling Cod) Urophycis chuss)
◎Long, tapered body shape featuring a short first dorsal fin with an elongated filament and a long second dorsal fin; a single chin barbel is present; caudal fin is rounded; coloration is brownish to grayish brown, with some hints of red, along the back and upper sides fading to a yellowish, off-white belly.
◎Size: up to 9 pounds; average size is under 2 pounds.