FISH ID  >> JACKS, DOLPHINS AND COBIA

Jacks, Dolphins, and Cobia

Greater Amberjack (Amberjack, Amber, AJ)
Brownish-gold (amber) above, creamy below. Dark stripe from snout through eye to first dorsal fin. Gill rakers not completely covering gill arch, usually 7 dorsal spines, anal fin long, dorsal fin rounded, not elongated.
Average 20-30 pounds

Banded Rudderfish (Amarino)

Body slender. Short anal fin base. Usually 8 dorsal fins, first very small. Very similar to greater Amberjack, but pectoral fin shaded, rakers not completely covering gill arch. Dorsal fin rounded, not elongated, with gold stripe running full length of body. Caudal fin uniformly colored. Average 3-5 pounds

Lesser Amberjack (Amberjack, Lesser Amberjack)
Lighter in color than Almaco Jack, pectoral fin broader, second dorsal fin yellowish tipped in pink. Stripe generally from eye to front of first dorsal fin. Much smaller fish than amber, almaco, or banded rudderfish; occurs in specific locales. Notch in front of caudal fin. Gill rakers completely cover gill arch. Eye large. Average 2-5 pounds

Almaco Jack (Blackjack, Bar Jack, Rock Salmon)
Dark copper to brown above, dark creamy below. Dark stripe from snout to second dorsal fin and around mouth. Generally deep body, dark color. Front lobes of second dorsal and anal fins much higher than in greater amberjack. Notch in front of caudal fin. Gill rakers completely cover gill arch. Average 10-15 pounds

Crevalle Jack (Jackfish, Yellow Jack)

Copper-silver above, yellowish silver below. Black spot at upper rear edge of gill cover and on pectoral fin. Heavy head, deep body, prominent scutes. Long yellow lobes on dorsal and anal fins.

Average 10-20 pounds

Blue Runner (Blue Runner, Hardtail, Hardtail Jack)

Bluish green to blackish green above, silvery below. Black spot at upper rear edge of gill cover. Lateral line turns downward sharply at base of second dorsal fin, long pectoral, very prominent scutes, caudal fin lobes generally black. Average 1-2 pounds

Black Jack (Blacky)

Body entirely black, head profile steep and straight, dorsal fin pointed and elongated. Pectoral fin a fourth of the body length, yellow tinted. Anal fin rounded and long. Keel on either side of body, beginning at midbody and continuing through tail.
Average 4-6 pounds

Horse-Eye Jack (Horse-eye, Big-eye Jack, Hard Tail)

Silvery above and below, prominent bulging eyes, profile of head high, rounded. Heavy head, deep body. Large, sharply curved dorsal fin. Prominent scutes. No large dark blotch on upper opercle. 

                                                    Average 20-25 pounds

Florida Pompano
(Pompano, Carolina Pompano)

Silvery, with yellow tint on stomach and lower jaw. First dorsal fin very short, head rounded.

Average 2-5 pounds

Permit (Permit, Great Pompano)

Totally silvery, bluish or blackish on back, no yellow in adults. Much larger fish, deeper bodied than Florida Pompano. Prominent ribs, able to be felt through the sides of fish.

Average 10-15 pounds

American Pompano

Body very flat vertically, totally silver tongue with gray on dorsal, anal and caudal fins in adults. Front of head steep and rounded. Front half of lateral line strongly arched. Dorsal and anal streamers long in young, disappearing with age. Scutes on tail. 
                                                    Average 10-15 pounds

Rainbow Runner (Rainbow)

Bluish green above, with yellow, blue, and green longitudinal stripes from snout to tail. Very slender body, 1 dorsal and 1 anal finlet, deeply forked tail. No scutes. Notch in front of caudal fin.

Average 5-7 pounds

Dolphin [Male]
(Dolphin, Mahi-Mahi, Dorado)

Beatifully colored with yellows, greens, blues. Dorsal fin soft, continuous, deeply forked tail. Head raised and blunt in males.

Average 10-15 pounds

Dolphin [Female]

Head rounded in females.

Average 10-15 pounds

Cobia (Ling, Brown Shark, Lemonfish, Crab-Eater)

Dark brown above, yellowish white below. Head flattened, first dorsal fin low, consisting of 8 separate strong spines. Young with 2 horizontal yellowish-white stripes. Dark stripe on midside fading with death. Caudal fin forked. 
                                                    Average 15-30 pounds

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