How Do You Identify Saltwater Fish On The Florida Gulf Coast?
The Florida Gulf Coast, with its warm and relatively calm waters, can be a great place to spend a relaxing afternoon fishing, diving or boating. The Gulf of Mexico contains some of the most productive commercial fisheries anywhere on earth, a testament to the abundance of fish there. With the variety of species in the gulf, including its bays and estuaries, identifying what you may have caught or seen might look like a daunting task. Taking a step-by-step approach can put you on the path to an accurate result. Familiarize yourself beforehand with the names and locations of the exterior body parts of a fish. This will help you understand the field guide descriptions and to distinguish between similar-looking fish. Consider your location. Some fish species stay exclusively in a particular habitat. For instance, you would find the dolphin fish (mahi mahi) in the open gulf waters. Striped mullet, on the other hand, can be found offshore in shallow waters. Other species stay around pilings.
