SAILFISH – Istiophorus platypterus
Family Istiophoridae, BILLFISHES Description: color dark blue on top, brown-blue laterally, silvery white underbelly; upper jaw elongated in form of spear; first dorsal greatly enlarged in the form of a sail, with many black spots, its front squared off, highest at its mid point; pelvic fins very narrow, reaching almost to the anus; body covered […]
WHITE MARLIN – Tetrapterus albidus
Family Istiophoridae, BILLFISHES Description: color of body dark blue to chocolate brown, shading to slivery white underbelly; noticeable spots on dorsal fin; upper jaw elongated in shape of a spear; body covered with imbedded scales with a single sharp point; tips of first dorsal, pectoral, and first anal fins rounded; lateral line curved above pectoral […]
BLUE MARLIN – Makaira nigricans
Family Istiophoridae, BILLFISHES Description: color cobalt blue on top shading to silvery white on bottom; upper jaw elongated in form of a spear; dorsal fin pointed at front end; pectoral fin and anal fin pointed; lateral line reticulated (interwoven like a net), difficult to see in large specimens; no dark spots on dorsal fin; body […]
LONGBILL SPEARFISH – Tetrapturus pfluegeri
Family Istiophoridae, BILLFISHES Description: color of body dark blue, shading to silvery, white underneath; dorsal fin bluish, others brown-black; two dorsal fins, the first lengthy, its front forming a peak; two anal fins, the anus well in front of the first; upper jaw prolonged into spear, its cross section round. Similar fish: white marlin, Tetrapterus […]
SWORDFISH – Xiphias gladius
Family Xiphiidae, SWORDFISHES Description: color of back variable, black, grayish blue, brown, metallic purple, or bronze; sides dusky; underbelly dirty white; long flat, sword-like upper jaw; lacks scales, teeth, and pelvic fins; single keel on each side of body in front of tail; first dorsal fin high, rigid and short; large eyes. Similar fish: no […]
DOLPHIN – Coryphaena hippurus
Family Coryphaenidae, DOLPHINS Description: bright greenish blue above, yellow on sides, with capability of flashing purple, chartreuse, and a wide range of other colors; body tapers sharply from head to tail; irregular blue or golden blotches scattered over sides; anterior profile of head on adult males is nearly vertical; head of females more sloping; the […]
BLACKFIN TUNA – Thunnus atlanticus
Family Scombridae, MACKERELS AND TUNAS Description: pectoral fin moderately long, reaching point below beginning of 2nd dorsal fin; 2nd dorsal fin dusky; all finlets dusky, with white edges; dorsal finlets sometimes turn yellowish at base after death; a broad, brownish stripe along upper part fo side; eye large; 19 to 25 gill rakers (usually 21 […]
YELLOWFIN TUNA – Thunnus albacares
Family Scombridae, MACKERELS AND TUNAS Description: pectoral fin moderately long, reaching point below beginning of 2nd dorsal fin; 2nd dorsal fin and all finlets yellow; no white rear edge on caudal fin; golden stripe on side; 2nd dorsal and anal fins become much longer with age (to about 1/5 of total length); eye small; 26 […]
LITTLE TUNNY – Euthynnus alletteratus
Family Scombridae, MACKERELS AND TUNAS Description: diagonal, sometimes wavy, dark bars on bare areas on each side of back; 4 to 5 dark spots below pectoral fin; no dark stripes on belly; dorsal fins connected at base; pectoral fin short. Size: to 1 m (3.25 ft.) and 12 kg (26 lbs.), but usually much smaller. […]
WAHOO – Acanthocybium solanderi
Family Scombridae, MACKERELS AND TUNAS Description: body slender; elongate jaws form a pointed beak; dark bluish above, with about 30 dark wavy bars; whitish below 1st dorsal fin long and low, with 21 to 27 spines; no gill rakers. Size: to 2.1 m (83 in.) and 83 kg (183 lbs.). Where found: offshore Gulfstream; bluewater […]