hTLSW>t30-caX;Lj28n]"Mnkj2.k_Xc%2Bbfjb(&Eww}9 `p1 L~0 6aL^$;@J$iPi toc/)7d UY$3~+NXb7F[q= +'DWV:i@%*kw MPWE5*UkT{'EvqEQ*T(^>/*dp[coP9OX#zLEilc6eSixq0t@bKL44v4L-)U?p"6|gumo?tiR|n{Cu51.qbDcZC_(rz q,Q -&^ESBEKiQh6KZXV}>5b0R0xYuTPt Anchovies are commonly caught from shore using casting nets, though they can also be caught using seines, dip nets, and even sibiki rigs. The juveniles remain inshore until reaching maturation. of Florida, IFAS Ext. It is brown and gray in color all around with darker spots on the scales. Juveniles can be found in large schools near shore in tidal pools usually around vegetation where adults are found on reefs and wrecks. With large canine-like teeth, this porgy feeds on crustaceans, mollusks and small fish. They generally feed on soft bodied invertebrates and crustaceans, worms, small plankton and more. Juvenile Atlantic Spadefish are found in estuaries in the Western Atlantic from Massachusetts south to Florida into the Gulf of Mexico. This fish is a good bait for Striped Bass or Bluefish. Their bodies are a grayish or brown with a white belly and have spines on its cheeks, neck and shoulders so they should be handled carefully. This species is consider by angers to be a nuisance because it readily steals bait when bottom fishing. It can be found in the Atlantic Ocean from New England to Florida, also in the Gulf of Mexico. Catch this fish from shore using a Sabiki rig tipped with squid. These rays are flat diamond-shaped and are much wider than they are long. It has a tapered body with its tail being the thinnest part. This species is distinguished from other seahorses by having a shorter snout and their skin is covered in tiny warts. They inhabit inshore seagrass beds, sand flats and shallow reefs. They travel in small schools and prefer inshore areas and sandy seafloors. Image Credit: Robert Aguilar, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Daggerblade grass shrimp are found along the Atlantic & Gulf coasts from Massachusetts to Texas. Image Credit: Sea Grant Florida & Univ. They can grow up to 15 inches, but most are between 8 and 10 inches. This species is dark grey or brownish with dark lines across the top and dark spots. Juveniles are known as glass eels due to their transparency color and have a long, slender snakelike body. They have 2 claws one being disproportionally large and the other is of normal size. Usually, anglers eat them. Juveniles can be found in the surf and enter estuaries into brackish waters. The blue crab's shell can grow as large as 7 inches wide by 4 inches long and develops its blue body coloring as it grows with mature females having red tips on their pinchers where some say they paint their nails! They generally only reach a maximum of 9 inches. They feed on zooplankton and small invertebrates. This species is also different from others having a courtship ritual before mating. The fish is silver to green-yellow in color with olive colors on the back. These fish are known to be fast swimming carnivores with an appetite for meaty foods and occasionally living items. They can grow up to 20 inches, but most don't exceed 14 inches, feeding mainly on sea grasses and smaller fish. Collier County, Brian Fluech, The Scamp Grouper lives among the Atlantic coast from North Carolina through the Gulf of Mexico in nearshore and offshore reefs prefering ledges and rocky bottoms. They are bottom dwellers and are commonly caught with traps but can be caught with a piece of chicken or fish tied to a string near a pier or dock. They feed on small schools of fish but will also feed on crabs, lobster and rays. Image Credit: NOAA. In deeper waters it can be found along reefs and man made objects. Juveniles are found in brackish waterways. Image Credit: NOAA /Teacher at Sea, Scorpionfish are found in the western Atlantic from Massachusetts to Florida and the northern Gulf of Mexico. They are popular for sport fishers and can grow up to 15 inches and reach a weight of 18 pounds. This species is dark blueish to gray and have orange on the top of their heads and at the tip of the tail. Collier County, Brian Fluech, Pinfish is a species originated in coastal waters, Massachusetts south through the Gulf of Mexico and the north coast of Cuba to the Yucatan peninsula. They feed on algae, debris and larvae using their spines to move the food into their mouths which is located on their bottom side. The hump coloration can spread to the rest of the body, turning it's dusky black or brown scales a bright blue shade. The coloring is generally dark brown and the juveniles have pale crossbars on the tail. Most snooks color ranges from dark brown to dull gray with a yellow to green tint on the dorsal surface. Image Credit: Robert Aguilar, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, The Round scad is commonly found throughout the coastal zone of the Atlantic Ocean, ranging from Nova Scotia to Rio de Janeiro. The young feed on shrimp, worms and other small invertebrates. Ghost crabs can change their coloring to match their surroundings which helps them hide from predators. They are a flatfish and spend most of their time swimming along the bottom on their left side. They typically grow to between three and six inches and have a distinctive metallic silver strip on their sides. They feed on juvenile snake eels, small bony fish and crustaceans. They tend to hide in rocks, corals and mangrove roots. Adults have a long, slender body that averages about 6 inches with vertical bars along it's sides that appear as rings. The fish can be caught with a handline, rod and reel, or nets but are not recommended to eat as they may contain ciguatera poisoning. The slimy flesh of this species can cause skin irritations. They are a member of the pufferfish family. They can grow up to 9 inches but are typically only 4 to 6 inches long. Image Credits: Sea Grant Florida & Univ. These fish are observed in coral reefs in schools during the day but venture into the open waters at night to feed. Also called google-eye, these bluish-green fish travel in schools feeding on small invertebrates, fish larvae, and zooplankton in tropical reefs. Sharks have teeth that fall out all the time that are continuously replaced with new teeth. Most are generally 6-9 inches and can weigh up to 20 ounces. The claws on the adult female blue crab are red. They primarily feed on plankton, small shrimp and fish eggs. They feed on small crustaceans and mollusks with their mouth being at the center of the disk. Image Credit: The Division of Fishes of the Smithsonian's National Museum Natural History via Flickr. Their shells are broad in a dark mottled brown color with white underneath. This perch is most commonly used as bait for striped bass and bluefish. Adult Stone Crab (Menippe mercenaria) R. Adult stone crab can be found as far north as Connecticut and south through the Gulf of Mexico. They are eaten in many places, but their most common use is as bait for tuna and other sportfish. The white mullet are common in shallow coastal waters that surround Florida but can be found as far north as Cape Cod. These fish are found inshore primarily, but some adults may be found offshore. Image Credit: USGS, Blotched swimming crabs are found in the Gulf of Mexico along Florida and also in the Atlantic from New Jersey to South Florida. Atlantic sturgeon has become endangered due to over fishing, they are prized for their eggs as caviar. The fins of the fish are yellow in color, and young of the species have a dark spot at the base of the tail fin. Image Credit: NOAA Teacher at Sea, Windowpane Flounder are found in the Western Atlantic from Canada to northern Florida in shallow waters. Juveniles spend most of the day closer inshore and move offshore at night to hunt. It can be caught on light tackle, are edible but can cause ciguatera poisoning which is found in coral grazers. Usually they are around 3-4 inches in length and are caught with a net and used for bait. Large porgy make a great meal. The bluefish is found in the Atlantic coast migrating from Maine to Florida in the winter months. Juvenile spotted hake are excellent bait for striped bass. They feed on shrimp, crab and smaller fish and are typically caught with a rod and reel with the use of chum. This information is provided only as a courtesy and there is NO guaranties, warranties, express or implied, or representations as to the accuracy of this content. Another distinctive feature is the bright blue hump on their heads. They can be found in the western Atlantic Ocean from Cape Cod to the Gulf of Mexico. of Florida, IFAS Ext. The fish can be caught from shore using bait and hook and is utilized as bait for larger fish or for consumption. It is often covered in algae or debris to help hide them from predators since they are slow moving. Most specimens of this species have been found in South Padre Island, Texas but have been documented in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic north to Chesapeake Bay, VA. This species is know to bury its self in the mud or sand. Spot is found from the Gulf of Maine to the Rio Grande. Their dorsal fin is mottled and a small eyespot may be present near the rear. The Tarpon snook has the same characteristics as the common snook except it has a deeper body. As the crab grows and becomes too large for its shell, it must find a larger one to move into. Juveniles have five black stripes. Image Credit: NOAA, Brown shrimp, aka Northern brown shrimp, inhabit coastal waters from Massachusetts to Texas. The Banded Drum is a olive to grey color on top, and a silvery white color on the belly. Image Credits: Sea Grant Florida & Univ. Image #2 Credit: Smithsonian via Flickr. Image Credit: NOAA / Teacher at Sea, Juvenile Atlantic Blue Tangs are found in western Atlantic from New York south to Florida to the Gulf of Mexico in shallow grassy areas. The most distinctive feature of this fish is the lower jaw is longer than the top. Needlefish are rarely eaten but make great bait for catching snook, barracuda, flounder and stripers. Check local regulations on this species before harvesting. When this stingray is feeding it will skim along the surface of the sand in search of crustaceans, worms, bivalves and anemones. They are tan in color with red or purplish stripes. The sergeant major fish is found in warm coastal waters from Rhode Island through the Gulf of Mexico. HOOK Optics made for fishing by fishermen with 40 years of optical experience. They have a grayish body with black spots with a white underside. The images on this page are derived works and copyrighted by America Go Fishing, Inc. Multiple resources were used to create the information contained on our website. As filter feeders, their diet consists of phytoplankton and zooplankton. Their diet is omnivorous consuming microalgae, zooplankton, and smaller fish. The Longnose is olive in color with many dark stripes vertical on the body. It feeds on bottom feeders including crustaceans, mollusks and smaller fish. Bumber eat cephalopods, zooplankton and detritus. The Silver Jenny Mojarra come from the western Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to the Gulf of Mexico. The species was introduced to the Pacific Ocean in the 19th century and can also be found along the western cost of North America. Juvenile black drum are commonly caught while bait catching and should be released because they are a regulated species. Each state has their own regulations for bait catching and individual species harvesting in state waters, so please look up license requirements, gear allowed and individual species regulations for the area you will be catching bait.