BANDED RUDDERFISH – Seriola zonata
Family Carangidae, JACKS AND POMPANOS
Description: fish less than 11 inches long have dark band from eye to first dorsal fin and six prominent bars on body; larger fish are bluish, greenish, or brown; soft dorsal base about twice the length of the anal fin; tail-lobe white tipped.
Similar fish: other Seriola.
Where found: NEARSHORE and OFFSHORE over hard bottom, generally in shallower water than other amberjacks; young associated with weed lines or floating debris and may follow sharks and other large fish.
Size: usually less than 10 pounds.
Remarks: adults feed on fish and shrimp; spawns OFFSHORE most of year.
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