Identification Guide To South Carolina Fishes

1 Identification Guide To South Carolina FishesInshoreFishesRed Drum(Spottail, redfish, channel bass, puppy drum,)SciaenopsocellatusBlack DrumPogoniascromisBarbells on black vertical bars along have multiple spots along dorsal Seatrout(Winter trout, speckled trout)CynoscionnebulosusSilver SeatroutCynoscionnothusWeakfish (Summer trout, Gray trout)CynoscionregalisLarge eyeSilver coloration with no commonly encountered just offshore around live bottom and artificial commonly encountered in rivers and distinct black spots on dorsal Perch (Virginia Perch)Bairdiella chrysouraAtlantic Croaker (Hardhead)MicropogoniasundulatusRKWRKWSp otLeiostomusxanthurusRKWD istinct spot on black vertical bars along (Sailors Choice)LagodonrhomboidesDistinct Kingfish (Whiting)MenticirrhusamericanusGulf KingfishMenticirrhuslittoralisNorthern KingfishMenticirrhussaxatilisSEAMAP-SA:R PWD usky 1st dorsal-fin tipExtended 1stdorsal filamentSEAMAP-SA:RPWRKWB lack caudal fin tipSouthern flounderParalichthyslethostigmaRKWS ummer flounderParalichthysdentatusB.

2 FloydFive ocellatedspots in this distinct pattern. No ocellatedspots .Gulf flounderParalichthysalbiguttaB. FloydThree ocellatedspots in a triangle pattern. B. FloydBluefishPomatomussaltatrixLadyfishE lopssaurusInshore LizardfishSynodusfoetensRKWRKWRKWF lorida PompanoTrachinotuscarolinusRKWL ookdownSelene vomerRKWS padefishChaetodipterusfaberRKWJ uvenileJuvenile spadefish are commonly found in SC estuaries. Adults, which look very similar to the specimen shown above, are common inhabitants of offshore HammondCobia RachycentroncanadumAdultJuvenileD. HammondAdult cobia are considered a coastal migratory species and are commonly encountered in near shore and offshore waters. Juveniles may occasionally be caught Inshore FishesStriped BurrfishChilomycterusschoepfiNorthern PufferSphoeroidesmaculatusE.

3 VernonE. VernonBighead SearobinPrionotustribulusRKWB atfish (sp. Unknown) Baitfish or fish commonly caught in cast nets or MulletMugilcuremsStriped MulletMugilcephalusRKWCMA tlantic MenhadenBrevoortiatyrannusRKWS triped killifishFundulusmajalisMummichog(Mudmin now)FundulusheteroclitusRKWRKWRKWFat SleeperDormitatormaculatusBay AnchovyAnchoamitchilliDorsal fin originates over origin of anal BumperChloroscombruschrysurusBlack spot on caudal spines can cause serious skin irritation if stuck into Grouper (Fireback)Mycteroperca venenosaGag Grouper (Grey, Black Grouper)Mycteroperca microlepisBlack Grouper (Carberita)Mycteroperca bonaciDistinct orange red dorsal Specimens (40+inches) typically have black brown GrouperEpinephelus flavolimbatusTip of dorsal and pectoral fins bright (Broomtail)

4 Mycteroperca phenaxYellowmouthGrouperMycteroperca interstitialisLong filaments on tail and anal and anal fin lack long BodyYellowUSCGS pecies is typically caught in deepwater (300+ ft).Tip of dorsal and pectoral fins bright GrouperEpinephelus niveatus11 Dorsal , small species have white of jaw is comparatively less sloped. USCGS mall specimens have a black saddle on caudal GrouperEpinephelus mystacinusBlack saddle on caudal black PlayerWarsaw GrouperEpinephelus nigritus10 Dorsal mouth closed jaw is at a steep angle and extends to posterior part of eye but not 8/16/05 Goliath Grouper (Jewfish)JuvenileEpinephelus itajaraRKWRed GrouperEpinephelus morioMembrane between dorsal spines even with the tips of the red body coloration occasionally with white blotchesRKWN assau GrouperEpinephelus striatusDark stripe through saddle on caudal Hind (Kitty Mitchell, Strawberry)EpinephelusdrummondhayiDistin ct spots on caudal (Red Phase)Epinephelus fulvusRKWRKWRKWMost common color pattern is a dark purple with white Rock Hind (Strawberry Grouper)

5 Epinephelus adscensionisGraysbyEpinephelus cruentatusRed HindEpinephelus guttatusBlack tipped not have 2 black spots on caudal peduncle like the ConeyRKWRKWRKWS napperRed Snapper (AM Red, Genuine)Lutjanus campechanusLane Snapper (Candy Snapper) Lutjanis synagrisRounded Anal Yellow Anal IrisDiffuse black spot, more prominent in smaller (8 - 10 in.) may have a diffuse black Dorsal spinesYellowtail SnapperOcyurus chrysurusBroad yellow forked yellow Snapper (B-liner)Rhomboplites aurorubensDeeperforked Dorsal SpinesRKWQ ueen SnapperEtelis oculatusRKWB lackfin Snapper (Hambone)Lutjanus buccanellaSilk Snapper ( Yelloweye)Lutjanus vivanusRed SnapperYellow Anal SnapperLutjanus analisBlueline under Black Anal tailUSCGRKWS napper ComparisonGray Snapper (Mangrove Snapper)Lutjanus griseusAnchor- shaped tooth patch on roof of angulate anal Pectoral SnapperLutjanus cyanopterusRounded Anal - shaped tooth patch on roof of Canine Pectoral SnapperLutjanus jocuUSCGW hite triangular splotch under shaped tooth patch on roof of Porgy (Silver Snapper, Pinky, Pink Snapper)

6 Pagruspagrus2nd nostril red body Porgy (Chocolate Porgy)Calamus leucosteusSmall black spots on membrane between nostril slit - red body Porgy (Jolthead)Calamus nodosusVery steep head nostril slit - PorgyCalamus proridensHump on bajonadoDistinct blue line under (Anterior)Orange on inside corner of : Specimen shown is .RKWS heepsheadArchosargusprobatocephalusVerti cal black - like Pinfish (Ringtail)Diplodus holbrookiLarge spot on caudal chrysopsRKWRKWI ndentation above line under dorsal RKWS eabassBlack Sea Bass (Blackfish)Centropristis striataBank Sea BassCentropristis ocyurusRock Sea Bass Centropristis philadephicaDark bars with blotches on dorsal filaments on dorsal saddle below dorsal GruntHaemulon plumieriRed on inside of aurolineatumSpot on base of stripe from eye to species of Western Atlantic grunts have red on inside of the GruntHaemulon sciurusWhen compared to the white grunt, the bluestriped grunt has a more golden melanurumBlack band unique to this on inside of albumRed on inside of on inside of Margate is the largest of the Western Atlantic orange corner of mouth is RudderfishLesser AmberjackGreater AmberjackRKWG reater AmberjackSeriola dumeriliBanded Rudderfish (Amberine)Seriola zonataBootFlatMore Greater AmberjackSteep Head Profile.

7 Boot on Greater AmberjackBootFlatSteeper Head AmberjackSeriola fasciataLesser AmberjackSeriola fasciataJaw extends past midpoint of EyeRKWNOTE: Lesser Amberjack are typically caught in deeper water than the other jacks. fishing vessels having snowy grouper or tilefish will often have lesser amberjacks not banded does not extend to midpoint of the eye, and no boot .Large EyeJaw extends almost to the posterior part of the is much smaller than lesser Rudderfish (Amberine)Seriola zonataBanded RudderfishGreater AmberjackThe Boot The posterior part of the maxilla is much more broad on a greater the steep incline of the maxilla (the boot). The maxilla is comparatively is a very slight incline of the AmberjackAlmaco JackAlmaco JackSeriola rivolianaYellow JackCaranx bartholomaeiHigh dorsal comparatively deeper than rudder, lesser, and greater.

8 Boot RKWLong pectoral on caudal JackCaranx lugubrisSteep head PlayerD. PlayerAfrican PompanoAlectis ciliarisFilaments on dorsal and anal JackCaranx hipposScutes on caudal black spot on on caudal RunnerElagatis bipinnulataFinlets on caudal & Yellow RunnerCaranx crysosScutes on caudal Pectoral JackUraspis secundaD. PlayerTriggerfishFilefishGray Triggerfish (Leatherjacket)BalistescapriscusStout1st dorsal TriggerfishCanthidermissufflamenD. PlayerUnicorn FilefishAluterusmonocerosD. PlayerRKWQ ueen TriggerfishBalistesvetulaRKWW rassesHogfish (Hog Snapper)Lachnolaimus maximusBlack SpotProtruding snout with large canine HogfishBodianus pulchellusBlack spot on pectoral DickHalichoeresbivittatusTautog Tautoga onitisRKWM ackerelSpanish MackerelScomberomorus maculatusKing MackerelScomberomorus cavallaSteep dip in lateral dip in lateral BonitoSarda sardaStripes on dorsal Tunny (Bonita, False Albacore)Euthynnus alletteratusChain PatternSpotsRKWS kipjack TunaKatsuwonus pelamisStripesRKWA lbacoreThunnus alalungaLong Pectoral TunaThunnus atlanticusYellowfin TunaThunnus albacaresPec.

9 Fin does not extend past dorsal and anal Fin extends past dorsal and anal Bluefin TunaThunnus thynnusRKWB rackettOtherOffshoreFishesSand PerchDiplectrum formosumVertical black blue and yellow on caudal (Sailors Choice)Lagodon rhomboidesDistinct (Golden Tile)Lopholatilus chamaeleonticepsBlueline Tilefish (Grey Tile)Caulolatilus micropsAdipose flapLacks adipose blue line under PlayerBearded BrotulaBrotulabarbataSouthern HakeUrophycis floridanaSpots behind eye distinguish this from similar Tilefish (Slippery Dick)MalacanthusplumieriG. SteeleScorpionfish(Sp. unknown) ChubKyphosus sectatrixBlue TangAcanthurus coeruleusRetractable spineRKWRKWL ongtail BassHemanthias leptusLong FishParanthias furciferYellowish tinge on dorsal EyeRKWS panish FlagGonioplectrushispanusRKWDPS oldierfish (Sp.)

10 Unknown)SquirrelfishHolocentrus adscensionisShort Bigeye(Toro)PriacanthusaltaLarge tipped pelvic and anal umbrosusRKWRed LionfishPteroisvolitansSpines are extremely HamletEpinephelus aferLarge eye very close to white white spots sporadic over fin originates behind pec interdorsal dorsal is black Sharpnose Shark (Small Coastal)Rhizoprionodon terraenovaeIndentation on central part of headLacks interdorsal ridgeBonnethead (Small Coastal)Sphyrna tiburoScalloped Hammerhead (Large coastal) Sphyrna lewiniInterdorsal RidgeLarge dorsal fin originating over the midpoint of the pec the silky, short rear tip of 2nd dorsal Shark (Large Coastal)Carcharhinus plumbeusDorsal originates behind pectoral dorsal and anal fin have no interdorsal blotch at tip of snout more prominent in Shark (Small Coastal)Carcharhinus acronotusBlack tip on interdorsal dorsal is black fin is fin is black Shark (Large Coastal)Carcharhinus limbatusNo interdorsal dorsal and anal fin have no fins are Shark (Small Coastal)Carcharhinus isodonInterdorsal RidgeDistinct black Shark (Large Coastal)Galeocerdo cuvieriSand Tiger (Large Coastal)Odontaspis taurusView shows underside of interdorsal dorsal and anal fin black fin is black Shark (Large Coastal)Carcharhinus brevipinnaInterdorsal (Carcass)Dusky Shark (Large Coastal)Carcharhinus obscurusLong posterior tip on both 2nddorsal and anal fin.