Saltwater Sport Fish of the Gulf Field Guide

by Dave Bosanko

Overview

Go fishing with the famous field guide that helps readers quickly and easily identify sport fish in the Gulf of Mexico.

Fishing is a perfect outdoors activity for all ages and skill levels, and the Gulf of Mexico is one of the world's premier fishing grounds. Reel in fish, and make identifying your catches a snap. The Saltwater Sport Fish of the Gulf Field Guide by Dave Bosanko features detailed information about some 80 species of saltwater sport fish. When you’re not sure what you caught, grab the handy guide and narrow your choices by family. Then identify your prize with the intricately detailed fish illustrations. Further verify the type of fish using the “Similar Species” comparisons.

Book Features:

• Detailed information about sought-after sport fish such as billfish, jacks, snappers, and groupers
• Professional-quality illustrations—ideal for fish identification
• Fascinating facts about habitat, Gulf distribution, world records, edibility, and more
• Tips about equipment, methods, baits, and where to find fish

The Saltwater Sport Fish of the Gulf Field Guide is perfect for the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. It is essential for every tackle box and beach bag. Plus, its convenient size makes it perfect for the dock or boat. With this handy field guide, identifying your catch has never been easier or more enjoyable!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781591932543
Publisher:	Adventure Publications, Incorporated
Publication date:	12/03/2010
Series:	Fish Identification Guides
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	4.30(w) x 5.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Dave Bosanko was born in Kansas and studied engineering before following his love of nature to degrees in biology and chemistry from Emporia State University. He spent thirty years as staff biologist at two of the University of Minnesota’s field stations. Though his training was in mammal physiology, Dave worked on a wide range of research projects ranging from fish, bird, and mammal population studies to experiments with biodiversity and prairie restoration. An avid fisherman and naturalist, he has long enjoyed applying the fruits of his extensive field research to patterning fish location and behavior, and observing how these fascinating species interact with one another in the underwater web of life.

Read an Excerpt

Red Grouper
Epinephelus morio

Family: Sea bass family (Serranidae)

Other Names: mero americano

Description: stout, reddish brown body; scattered white spots over pale blotches; small black spots around mouth; inside of mouth red or orange; hard dorsal fin high with a straight edge; pectoral fins longer than pelvic fins; dorsal, anal and tail fins blackish with white margins

Habitat: rock walls, ledges and wrecks from 20 to 300 feet deep

Food: crabs, shrimp, lobsters, octopus and fish

Reproduction: matures in 4 to 7 years, then spawns in the open sea

Gulf Distribution: the entire Gulf

Average Size: 5 to 10 pounds

World Record: 42 pounds, 2 ounces, St. Augustine, Florida, 1997

Table Quality good to excellent when baked or grilled with lime juice and butter

Notes: The Red Grouper is a large, stout fish closely related to the Nassau Grouper. They are solitary fish that can be found in any water from 10 to 300 feet deep, but they need holes and crevices to hide in. Rock walls, ledges and wrecks are good Red Grouper habitat. Red groupers are a favorite target of spearfishermen in many clear water areas and have been severely overharvested. They are strong fighters when hooked and quick action is needed to keep them from returning to their holes and cutting the line.

Fishing Methods: still-fishing and drifting

Bait: live fish, crabs, squid and cut baits

Where: rock ledges and wrecks

Tips: fish a small squid by bringing it up several feet then dropping it back to the bottom

Table of Contents

About The Gulf Of Mexico

• The Yucatan Channel
• The Straits Of Florida
• The Continental Shelf
• Texas
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Alabama
• Florida

Fish Anatomy

Fish Names

Fish Diseases

Fish Consumption Advisories

Catch-And-Release Fishing

Fish Measurement

Fishing in Salt Water

Sinkers And Floats

Fishing Methods

Baits

Where To Fish

Marine And Freshwater Fish

How To Use This Book

Sample Page

Atlantic Cutlassfish Family

Barracuda Family

Billfish Family

Bluefish Family

Bonefish Family

Cobia Family

Croaker Family

Dorado Family

Flyingfish & Halfbeak Family

Grunt Family

Herring Family

Jack Family

Leatherjacket Family

Left-eyed Flatfish Family

Lizardfish Family

Mackerel Family

Mullet Family

Needlefish Family

Porgy Family

Puffer Family

Sawfish Family

Sea Bass Family

Sea Catfish Family

Hammerhead Shark Family

Requiem Shark Family

Scorpionfish Family

Skate Family

Snapper Family

Snook Family

Spadefish Family

Stingray Family

Striped Bass Family

Sturgeon Family

Tarppn Family

Tripletail Family

Wrasse Family

Glossary

References

Index

About the Author