Gulf Species Identification

Detailed identification guides for 86 Gulf of Mexico species. Each guide includes scientific illustrations, key features, habitat notes, and on-the-water ID tips.

86 species
African Pompano identification plate

African Pompano

Alectis ciliaris

Pompano & jack family

Almaco Jack identification plate

Almaco Jack

Seriola rivoliana

Jack family

No illustration

Atlantic Sharpnose Shark

Rhizoprionodon terraenovae

No illustration

Atlantic Spadefish

Chaetodipterus faber

Banded Rudderfish identification plate

Banded Rudderfish

Seriola zonata

Jack family

Barracuda (Great) identification plate

Barracuda (Great)

Sphyraena barracuda

Barracuda

Black Drum (Pogonias cromis) identification plate

Black Drum (Pogonias cromis)

Internal differences

No illustration

Black Drum (Puppy Drum)

Pogonias cromis

Black Grouper identification plate

Black Grouper

Mycteroperca bonaci

Grouper (reef)

No illustration

Black Seabass

Centropristis striata

Blackfin Tuna identification plate

Blackfin Tuna

Thunnus atlanticus

Tuna & tuna-like

No illustration

Blackfin Tuna (School)

Thunnus atlanticus

Blue Marlin identification plate

Blue Marlin

Makaira nigricans

Billfish

No illustration

Blue Runner

Caranx crysos

Bluefish identification plate

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

Inshore / reef species

Bonito (Little Tunny) identification plate

Bonito (Little Tunny)

Euthynnus alletteratus

Tuna & tuna-like

No illustration

Cero Mackerel

Scomberomorus regalis

COBIA identification plate

COBIA

Rachycentron canadum

No illustration

Cobia (Juvenile)

Rachycentron canadum

Crevalle Jack identification plate

Crevalle Jack

Caranx hippos

Jack family

No illustration

Dolphin (Schoolie)

Coryphaena hippurus

Florida Pompano identification plate

Florida Pompano

Trachinotus carolinus

Pompano & jack family

Flounder (Southern) identification plate

Flounder (Southern)

Paralichthys lethostigma

Flatfish (flounder)

Gafftopsail Catfish identification plate

Gafftopsail Catfish

Bagre marinus

Saltwater catfish

Gag Grouper identification plate

Gag Grouper

Mycteroperca microlepis

Grouper (reef)

No illustration

Gag Grouper (Juvenile)

Mycteroperca microlepis

No illustration

Golden Tilefish (Juvenile)

Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps

No illustration

Gray Snapper

Lutjanus griseus

No illustration

Gray Triggerfish

Balistes capriscus

GREATER AMBERJACK identification plate

GREATER AMBERJACK

Seriola dumerili

No illustration

Greater Amberjack (Juvenile)

Seriola dumerili

No illustration

Horse-eye Jack

Caranx latus

No illustration

Jack Crevalle (Juvenile)

Caranx hippos

KING MACKEREL identification plate

KING MACKEREL

Scomberomorus cavalla

No illustration

King Mackerel (Snake)

Scomberomorus cavalla

Ladyfish identification plate

Ladyfish

Elops saurus

Inshore / reef species

Lane Snapper identification plate

Lane Snapper

Lutjanus synagris

Snapper (reef)

No illustration

Lane Snapper (Juvenile)

Lutjanus synagris

Mahi-Mahi (Dolphin) identification plate

Mahi-Mahi (Dolphin)

Coryphaena hippurus

Offshore pelagic

Mangrove Snapper (Gray Snapper) identification plate

Mangrove Snapper (Gray Snapper)

Lutjanus griseus

Snapper (reef)

No illustration

Mangrove Snapper (Juvenile)

Lutjanus griseus

Mutton Snapper identification plate

Mutton Snapper

Lutjanus analis

Snapper (reef)

Permit identification plate

Permit

Trachinotus falcatus

Pompano & jack family

No illustration

Pinfish

Lagodon rhomboides

Red Drum identification plate

Red Drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

Drum family (croakers)

No illustration

Red Drum (Puppy Drum)

Sciaenops ocellatus

Red Grouper identification plate

Red Grouper

Epinephelus morio

Grouper (reef)

No illustration

Red Hind

Epinephelus guttatus

No illustration

Red Porgy

Pagrus pagrus

No illustration

Red Snapper

Lutjanus campechanus

No illustration

Red Snapper (Juvenile)

Lutjanus campechanus

No illustration

Rock Hind

Epinephelus adscensionis

Sailfish identification plate

Sailfish

Istiophorus platypterus

Billfish

Sand Seatrout (White Trout) identification plate

Sand Seatrout (White Trout)

Cynoscion arenarius

Drum family (croakers)

No illustration

Sandbar Shark

Carcharhinus plumbeus

Scamp Grouper identification plate

Scamp Grouper

Mycteroperca phenax

Grouper (reef)

Shark (Blacktip) identification plate

Shark (Blacktip)

Carcharhinus limbatus

Coastal shark

Shark (Bull) identification plate

Shark (Bull)

Carcharhinus leucas

Coastal shark

Shark (Spinner) identification plate

Shark (Spinner)

Carcharhinus brevipinna

Coastal shark

Sheepshead identification plate

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

Inshore / reef species

No illustration

Sheepshead (Dock Pilings)

Archosargus probatocephalus

No illustration

Silver Seatrout

Cynoscion nothus

Snowy Grouper identification plate

Snowy Grouper

Hyporthodus niveatus

Deepwater reef fish

No illustration

Southern Flounder (Camouflaged)

Paralichthys lethostigma

Spanish Mackerel identification plate

Spanish Mackerel

Scomberomorus maculatus

Mackerel

No illustration

Spanish Mackerel (School)

Scomberomorus maculatus

No illustration

Speckled Trout (Gator)

Cynoscion nebulosus

No illustration

Spottail Pinfish

Diplodus holbrookii

SPOTTED SEATROUT identification plate

SPOTTED SEATROUT

Cynoscion nebulosus

Swordfish identification plate

Swordfish

Xiphias gladius

Billfish

Tilefish (Golden) identification plate

Tilefish (Golden)

Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps

Deepwater reef fish

No illustration

Tomtate

Haemulon aurolineatum

Triggerfish (Gray) identification plate

Triggerfish (Gray)

Balistes capriscus

Inshore / reef species

Tripletail identification plate

Tripletail

Lobotes surinamensis

Inshore / reef species

No illustration

Tripletail (Juvenile)

Lobotes surinamensis

Vermilion Snapper (Beeliner) identification plate

Vermilion Snapper (Beeliner)

Rhomboplites aurorubens

Snapper (reef)

No illustration

Vermilion Snapper (Juvenile)

Rhomboplites aurorubens

Wahoo identification plate

Wahoo

Acanthocybium solandri

Offshore pelagic

Warsaw Grouper identification plate

Warsaw Grouper

Hyporthodus nigritus

Deepwater reef fish

No illustration

White Grunt

Haemulon plumierii

White Marlin identification plate

White Marlin

Kajikia albida

Billfish

No illustration

White Trout (School)

Cynoscion arenarius

Yellowedge Grouper identification plate

Yellowedge Grouper

Hyporthodus flavolimbatus

Deepwater reef fish

Yellowfin Tuna identification plate

Yellowfin Tuna

Thunnus albacares

Tuna & tuna-like

No illustration

Yellowfin Tuna (Football)

Thunnus albacares

Yellowtail Snapper identification plate

Yellowtail Snapper

Ocyurus chrysurus

Snapper (reef)

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