Credit: Illustration by Diane Rome Peebles
Family Sciaenidae
Description: inferior mouth; 3 to 5 pairs of small barbels on chin; silver-gray or bronze body with dark oblique wavy bars or lines; iridescent especially on head; preopercle strongly serrated
Similar fish: spot, Leiostomus xanthurus (has no chin barbels and has a dark blotch on shoulder)
Size: usually less than 2 pounds
Where found: generally found north of Tampa Bay on the west coast, and north of Cape Canaveral on the east coast; young fish found in estuaries; older fish (2 to 3 years) inhabit deep offshore waters during the winter months and move into bays and estuaries during the spring, summer, and fall
Remarks: during spawning becomes bronze or yellow in color; spawning apparently occurs offshore in fall; longevity 2 to 4 years
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