Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

FISH ID  >> MISCELLANEOUS FISH

Miscellaneous Fishes

Tilefish

Triangular, yellowish, fleshy tab on top of head, equal to height of dorsal fin. Body elongate. Mouth large, extending to front of eye. Many yellow spots on dorsal and anal fins.

Average 5-7 pounds

Goldface Tilefish (Tilefish, Goldy)

Elongate fish, continuous dorsal and anal fins more than half the length of body. Black spots at base of pectoral fins, broad gold stripe from snout to eye. Strong flat spine on gill cover.

Average 3-5 pounds

Blueline Tilefish (Tilefish, Blueliner)

Elongate, continuous dorsal and anal fins more than half the length of body, long snout, narrow gold stripe underlined in blue from snout to tip of eye. Strong, flat spine on gill cover.

Average 5-7 pounds

Atlantic Spadefish (Angelfish, Spade)

Silvery, with 4 to 5 dark gray to black vertical bars on sides. Body usually as deep or deeper than long. Anal, dorsal fins slightly shorter than caudal fin. Small mouth.

Average 1-3 pounds

Gray Triggerfish (Trigger)

Grayish overall, body rounded. Three dorsal spines with second locking first upright, single pelvic spine. Very rough leathery skin. Small round mouth, protruding teeth. Lacks gill cover, instead possesses opening underneath pectoral fin.
Average 1-3 pounds

Ocean Triggerfish
Dark gray or brownish-grayish overall, body round. Three stiff dorsal spines, locking; single pelvic spine. Tips of soft dorsal and anal fins are elongated, sickleshaped extensions. Scales behind gill opening no larger than others. Protruding teeth, larger fish. Dark spot at axil of pectoral fin.
Average 3-5 pounds

Queen Triggerfish

Generally bluish, body round. Two broad blue bands on face and broad blue band on caudal peduncle. Long streamers on dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, various brilliant colors.

Average 3-5 pounds

Tripletail (Blackfish, Dormant, Sleeper)

Dark brown to olive above, olive-yellow below, interspersed with white spots. Body almost as deep as long. Soft dorsal and anal fins along with caudal fin give appearance of 3 tails. Flat mid-bone of gill cover serrated rearward.
Average 2-5 pounds

Great Barracuda (Cuda)

Silvery gray above, white below. Torpedo shaped, elongate body. Black blotches on sides, vertical bars above lateral line, fading with death. Prominent teeth, fitting into pockets on opposing jaw.

Average 15-20 pounds

Bluefish (Blue, Bluefish, Marine Piranha)

Bluish green above, creamy below. Black dot at base of pectoral fin. Body elongate, head heavy. Mouth with numerous sharp teeth. First dorsal fin separate, second dorsal fin with spine. Two distict anal spines. Average 3-5 pounds

Striped Mullet (Mullet, Jumping Jack, Lisa)

White with dark horizontal stripes. Body elongate. Head round, first dorsal fin having four spines. One of few fish to possess a gizard. Bottom lip fits into V-shaped groove in upper lip.

Average up to 1 pound

Bearded Brotula
(Hake, Eel-Fish, Cusk, Cusk Eel)

Brownish red above, lighter below. Dark spots common in young fish. Body eel-like. No spines in continual fin. Barbels on upper and lower jaw.

Average 1-3 pounds

Gafftopsail Catfish
(Sail Cat, Sea Cat, Gafftop, Slime Cat)

Silvery gray above, white below. No scales. Barbel on mouth and filaments on dorsal and pectoral fins very long, flat, ribbonlike. Presence of toxin in spines on dorsal and pectoral fins. Tail deeply forked.
Average 2-3 pounds

Sea Catfish (Hardhead, Texas Trout)

Silvery gray above, white below. No scales. Four barbels on chin. No filaments on fins. First spine on dorsal and pectoral fins modified into barbed spine, which contains toxin. Tail slightly forked, with adipose fin just in front of tail fin. Average up to 1 pound

Southern Flounder
(Flounder, Mud Flounder, Flatfish, Southern Fluke, Plie)

Upper side brown, slightly blotched, bottom side uniformly creamy. Both eyes on dorsal side of head, body extremely flattened. Continuous fin on each side of body, prominent teeth. Average 1-3 pounds

Striped Bass (Barfish, Rock Bass, Striped Bass)

Whitish-silver with black horizontal stripes, usually continuous above and below lateral line. Body long, rounded. Mid-bone of gill cover serrated. Second anal spine half the length of third spine. Slightly forked tail. 

                                                    Average 3-5 pounds

Hybrid Striped Bass (Barfish, Striped Bass)

Whitish-silver with longitudinal black stripes, usually broken above and below lateral line. Body much deeper than striped, yellow, or white bass. Second anal spine two-thirds or more the length of third spine. Tail nearly square. Average 3-5 pounds

Yellow Bass (Barfish, Sand Bass, Striped Bass)

Whitish-silver with horizontal black stripes, usually broken below lateral line. Body nearly as deep as long, usually tinted in yellow, especially underneath. Dorsal fins joined. Second anal spine nearly as long as third. Slightly forked tail. 
                                                    Average up to 1 pound

White Bass (Barfish, Sandie, Striped Bass)

Whitish-silver with black horizontal stripes, usually broken above and below lateral line. Body nearl as deep as long, flatter than body of yellow bass. Second spine two-thirds the length of third spine. Nearly square tail.
Average up to 1 pound

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