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Family Sparidae, PORGIES
Archosargus probatocephalus
Description: basic
silvery color; with 5 or 6 distinct vertical black bands on sides, not
always the same on both sides; prominent teeth, including incisors,
molars, and rounded grinders; no barbels on lower jaw; strong and sharp
spines on dorsal and anal fins.
Similar Fish: black drum,
Pogonias cromis; Atlantic spadefish,
Chaetodipterus
(black drum have barbels on lower jaw, sheepshead do not; vertical
barring on sides of black drum and spadefish disappear as fish mature;
spadefish have small, brush-like teeth).
Where found: INSHORE
species around oyster bars, seawalls and in tidal creeks; moves
NEARSHORE in late winter and early spring for spawning, gathering over
debris, artificial reefs and around navigation markers.
Size: INSHORE, 1 to 2 pounds; OFFSHORE, common to 8 pounds.
*Florida Record: 12 lbs., 2 ozs.
Remarks: feeds on
mollusks and crustaceans such as fiddler crabs and barnacles; famed
nibblers, prompting the saying that "anglers must strike just before
they bite."
* The Florida records
quoted are from the Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not necessarily the most current
ones. The records are provided as only as a benchmark.
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