Texas Gulf Coast Fishing

Fish Identification

One of the most intriguing aspects of fishing is the constant repetition of the question, “What is it?” Quite often an angler, at some time during their fishing trip, catches a fish that must be examined closely to determine its species. Our waters have many species of marine fish, most of them edible and all of them interesting. Of those, quite a few are sufficiently important for their harvest to be regulated. Several species have game fish status meaning that they may not be sold. Learning to identify fish is a fascinating study in itself and is a matter of importance to the angler; misidentification of fish can lead to fisheries violations.

Total Length Fork Length Standard Length Head Length Snout Length Caudal peduncle Fin Rays First Dorsal Second Dorsal Pectoral Fin Pelvic Fin Anal Fin Finlet Caudal Fin Lateral Fin Scutes Opercle Preopercle Interopercle Adipose Eyelid Supramaxilla Premaxilla

Description: the details most readily observed have been given top priority, since the angler has only moments to decide whether a fish is or is not a legal catch. Fin-ray counts are supplied when essential.

Similar Fish: many fish have “look-alikes,” other fish that resemble them closely. In such instances, the most readily seen differences are given. Where Found: although the ocean has no fences, many fish are locked into particular habitats, information that often tells the angler where to drop the hook.

Size: anglers usually judge the size of a fish by its weight, which simplifies recordkeeping. Scientists use length, since age/length relationships are more reliable than age/weight. Both would agree, however, that king mackerel commonly exceed 20 pounds in weight.

Remarks: this includes the fish’s life history (if known), behavior; and feeding habits.

I have divided this section into 2 sub-sections. Quite a few species of fish will be found inshore as well as offshore. I have put these fish into the section where they are most predominant. Some of these fish are rare to Texas waters but, it is said that the ocean has no boundaries.

Inshore Species

Alligator Gar American Eel American Shad Atlantic Bumper Atlantic Croaker Atlantic Needlefish Atlantic Silverside Atlantic Thread Herring Bay Anchovy Bay Whiff Bayou Killifish Black Drum Common Snook Diamond Killifish Gafftopsail Catfish Grass Porgy Gulf Killifish Gulf Menhaden

Gulf Pipefish Gulf Toadfish Hardhead Catfish Hogchoker Jolthead Porgy Knobbed Porgy Ladyfish Littlehead Porgy Lizardfish Naked Goby Pigfish Pinfish Rainwater Killifish Redfish Red Porgy Ribbon Fish Sailfin Molly Saltmarsh Topminnow

Sand Trout Sculpin Sheepshead Sheepshead Minnow Silver Perch Speckled Trout Speckled Worm Eel Spot Spottail Pinfish Southern Flounder Southern Stargazer Southern Stingray Striped Anchovy Striped Majorra Striped Mullet Tomtate Violet Goby White Grunt Whiting

Offshore Species

African Pompano Almaco Jack Amberjack Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Atlantic Bonita Atlantic Sharpnose Shark Atlantic Spadefish Ballyhoo Banded Rudderfish Bank Sea Bass Barracuda Bermuda Chub Blackfin Snapper Blackfin Tuna Blacktip Shark Black Sea Bass Bluefish Blue Marlin Bonnethead Shark Bull Shark Cero Mackerel Cobia Coney Copper Shark Cownose Ray Cubera Snapper Dog Snapper Dolphin Dusky Shark

Flying Fish Gag Grouper Gray Snapper Gulf Flounder Hogfish Horse-Eye Jack Jack Crevalle Jewfish King Mackerel Lane Snapper Lemon Shark Lionfish Little Tunny Lookdown Mahogany Snapper Mutton Snapper Nurse Shark Palometa Permit Pompano Queen Snapper Rainbow Runner Red Snapper Remora Rock Sea Bass Rock Hind Grouper Sailfish Sandbar Shark Sand Tiger Shark

Scad Scalloped Hammerhead Shark Scamp Schoolmaster Snapper Shortfin Mako Shark Silk Snapper Silver Seatrout Skipjack Tuna Smooth Hammerhead Shark Smooth Puffer Snake Mackerel Spanish Mackerel Spinner Shark Spotted Eagle Ray Tarpon Thresher Shark Tilefish Tiger Shark Triggerfish Tripletail Vermilion Snapper Wahoo Warsaw Grouper Whale Shark White Marlin Whitefin Sharksucker Yellowfin Tuna Yellowtail Snapper

Other Coastal Creatures

Green Sea Turtle Hawksbill Sea Turtle Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Leatherback Sea Turtle Loggerhead Sea Turtle

American Alligator Blue Crab Fiddler Crab Stone Crab

Bottlenose Dolphin