Species Spotlight Archives - Page 3 of 5

May 30, 2026

Florida pompano are a surf fisherman’s dream fish: aggressive, hungry and a good test on light tackle. Just don’t cast too far. (Photo by Brian Cope)

Species spotlight: Florida pompano

July 18, 2021 Brian Cope

Florida pompano are part of the jack family and are the smallest of pompanos, being dwarfed by African and Cayenne pompanos. […]

Dolphin, aka Mahi-Mahi, are found throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the south Atlantic Ocean. They are aggressive, fast-growing and fast-swimming predators that are a favorite of anglers.

Species spotlight: Mahi-Mahi (aka dolphin)

June 24, 2021 Brian Cope

Colorful, tasty mahi mahi, aka dolphin, are among the fastest swimming and fastest-growing species you’ll ever run into. […]

This bluegill was caught in a swampy area off of a major river, a common place to find these fish throughout the south.

Species spotlight: Bluegill

May 20, 2021 Brian Cope

Bluegill are a favorite among almost every angler, and these sunfish are found everywhere and revered where they’re found. […]

Angler Drew Gregory was targeting largemouth bass when this longnose gar hit a spinnerbait in the tailrace below a dam, a common area for this species to search for prey. (Photo by Brian Cope)

Species Spotlight: Longnose gar

April 22, 2021 Brian Cope

Longnose gar are found almost everywhere. They are one of the most prehistoric fish swimming in North American waters. […]

Species spotlight: Shellcracker

March 23, 2021 Brian Cope

The redear sunfish, aka shellcracker, chinquapin or yellow bream, is identified most easily by the colorful edge around it earflap. […]

Blue catfish in this size range make fine table fare. Many anglers prefer this size for eating over larger ones. (Picture by Brian Cope)

Species spotlight: Blue catfish

February 18, 2021 Brian Cope

Blue catfish are highly adaptable and live in almost any type of freshwater; lakes, ponds, creeks, swamps or rivers. […]

Capt. Ronnie Daniels shows off a bull red caught while fishing the Biloxi Marsh. (Picture by Brian Cope)

Species spotlight: Redfish

January 21, 2021 Brian Cope

Red drum, commonly referred to as redfish, are one of the most popular species of saltwater fish throughout the southeast. […]

Unbroken horizontal lines along their sides distinguish striped bass from other bass species. (Photos by Brian Cope)

Species spotlight: Striped bass

December 24, 2020 Brian Cope

Striped bass are targeted by thousands and thousands of anglers. They are not in the same family as largemouth or smallmouth bass. […]

Species spotlight: Southern Flounder

November 20, 2020 Brian Cope

The southern flounder is a flat, oval-shaped fish and it is the biggest of the flounder species found throughout the Atlantic and Gulf. […]

Species Spotlight: Speckled trout

October 22, 2020 Brian Cope

Speckled trout are inshore gamefish that are popular among recreational anglers along the Gulf Coast and the eastern seaboard. […]

Species spotlight: Tarpon

September 19, 2020 Brian Cope

Most anglers have far fewer chances at tarpon than other fish. Along the Gulf Coast, they usually appear in late spring or early summer. […]

Tripletails are commonly found floating just under the surface around buoys of all kinds or junk.

Species spotlight: Atlantic tripletail

August 20, 2020 Brian Cope

Tripletails have rounded dorsal and anal fins that extend back almost to their tails, giving them the appearance of three tails, hence their name. […]