Refresher course on fish ID
 

Ok guys, after a long layoff from offshore fishing, my new boat has allowed me to get back to blue water. This past weekend we had a family trip for snapper and the kids were slinging fish like crazy.

Well, of the 4 boys, one in particular will catch fish in a sewage pond if I would let him. This boy goes to my in laws pond and will stay there for hours on end, even if the fish are not biting. If we go crabbing, he is sitting in the boat holding his fishing pole - all day! You get the picture, he is more into it than the other kids, basically obsessed!

Well, while cleaning our catch, I came across two fish in the bottom of the ice chest that I did not put there. Come to find out, while we were busy chumming up mangroves, he was in the front of the boat fishing light tackle for more bait. Apparently, these two fish fought hard and looked to him like they would be good to eat so he put them in the box.

Anyway, the one on the bottom looks like a small albacore, but I am not sure on the ID of either one so I figured I would post it here and see what you guys think. With my luck, they are both illegal and I will get a knock on the door from the feds anytime now!

Hmmm not to sure about those . . . . .

bottom amaco jack top one dont have clue

Is the top one a porgy or however you spell it.

Don't think it's a pogey.

its a panther

LMAO - A black panther at that!!!!!!

I think the top one is a turd hustler (no joke) dont know what its really called but ive seen a pic of one before...

With the little jacks it can be tricky because the lesser have to be 14" min, others types (almaco) no size or limit, then greater 30 min.

top is bermuda chub according to an old thread

Yep, bottom one is a almaco, we caught several lesser jacks and showed the kids the markings on them to make sure they were released.

On another note, I can not remember ever fishing the GoM this late in the year for snapper. I did it this year due to the BP oil spill thing and was "fish poor" in the freezer. This past weekend we caught the most impressive box of fish we have in awhile. Unique thing to me was the number of small fish we saw, caught, or just had around us at one time. We caught juvenile red snapper which were mayber 8" long while trying to catch bait on the way out, and I have never done that before. I was impressed by the condition of the Gulf and it seems we are in good shape for the future of the fishery.

didnt hear my phone ring

Man, I thought one of the kids went ask you????? I'm gonna have to get on their a$$, they told me you didn't want to come or something like that!

By the way, love the new boat w/ that 4stroker - 43 miles out of FWC and burned 38 gallons of fuel!!!!!!!!!!!!

lol you can put me down for next time:grinpimp:

Not pogey. Porgy

Well, the Jack got his butt fileted and eaten Sat. night, but the "porgy" was the nastiest looking thing I have ever seen. It is crawfish bait now!

no yak you mean pogey. we know you know it....

Hahaha. Your right sulphite. I forgot y'all know me better than ms. Hahaha

;)

Well, EXCUSE ME! I was just trying to help! Lol!

FFF, it was a pretty nasty fish, huh?!

Looks like the UFO was a Bermuda Chub looking at pics on the internet. The Porgy, or Rudderfish, are suppose to be tasty, but this one was not touching my pot! After closer inspection on different sites, I am leaning towards LA Angler's id - Bermuda Chub. I cut into that thing at it reminded me of an old abcess on the back of a homeless guy that popped as he sat down on my stretcher years ago. The colors of the puss coming out of that man's back was what the meat looked like and smelled just as bad!