Description: back and upper
sides olive to bluish with yellow spots; lower sides and belly with
alternating narrow, longitudinal pink and yellow stripes; prominent
midlateral yellow stripe begins at mouth and runs to tail, broadening as
it passes the dorsal fins; caudal fin yellow and deeply forked; no dark
lateral spot.
Similar Fish: none.
Where found: juveniles
INSHORE on grassbeds and back reefs; adults NEARSHORE or OFFSHORE over
sandy areas near reefs.
Size: common to 3 pounds.
*Florida Record: 8 lbs.,
9 ozs.
Remarks: found mainly in
tropical waters; spawns in midsummer; rarely exceeds 30 inches and 5
pounds in size; feeds on small fish and invertebrates.
* The Florida records
quoted are from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's
printed publication, Fishing
Lines and are not necessarily the most current ones. The records are
provided as only as a benchmark.
