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How to Identify the Fish of the Florida Keys

The tropical climate and warm waters of the Gulf Stream attract a wide range of migrating fish to the deeper waters surrounding the Florida Keys. Closer inshore, the coral reef -- which is the only living reef in the U.S. -- is home to a number of brightly colored reef fish.

Instructions

- 1
  Check what fish appear in which months to help narrow down the possibilities. For example, between January and March, fish such as the shark-like cobia and oval-shaped grouper are most active. Between April and July, it's relatively easy to find pointy-faced blue marlin and tarpon with their turned-up mouths, while between August and December, sailfish and the thin and striped wahoo are prominent.
- 2
  Look for identifying features. Some of the fish around the Florida Keys have easily distinguishable characteristics. Sailfish are most notable for their large, dark blue dorsal fin that stretches from head to tail and resembles a sail. The greenish-yellow dolphin fish has a blunt, flat face, while the dorsal fin of a hogfish consists of ribbon-like streamers.
- 3
  Use the size of the fish to narrow down the search. For example, blue marlin is the largest of the billfish common to the Keys, and weighs an average of 500 pounds. Other large fish include the red-colored cubera snapper, the brown mottled goliath grouper and yellow-fin tuna. Smaller fish, between 5 and 20 pounds in weight, include the pike-like barracuda, bullet-shaped bonefish, blackfin tuna and the box-like patterns of the black grouper.

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