Genismedia

J. P.'s Fish Ratings

• SPECIES
• TYPE
• HABITAT
• TACKLE
• EDIBILITY
• Greater Amberjack
• Game
• Pelagic. Offshore in deep water. Sometimes over wrecks or reefs.
• Heavy. AJ's can run large and are real tackle busters. Usually caught on live bait such as blue runners or cigar minnows, but they will hit dead baits and even streamers.
• If keepers are bled after being caught and the entire red strips on each side are totally removed, the amberjack is epicurean. Best grilled. The meat is firm, with a consistancy like chicken.
• Bluefish
• Game
• Near shore or in larger bays.
• Medium spinning. Blues will hit whitebait, shrimp, jigs, and spoons.
• Good if eaten while meat is still fresh. Some people hate it, some love it. Used frequently as crab substitute.
• Blue Runner (Hardtail)
• Sport
• Everywhere
• Light. Good fighters. Usually caught when fishing for some other species. Tossem or use as bait for larger species.
• None. Meat is unpalatable and the fish are hard to clean.
• Cobia
• Game
• Under or near buoys, pilings, floating flotsam, jetties.
• Medium-heavy. Cobia are usually large and strong. Shrimp, clam, whitebait, jigs.
• Excellent. Meat is creamy-white with a yellow tinge when fresh. Grill, broil, bake, fry.
• Cravalle Jack
• Sport
• Near shore, inshore, bays, inlets.
• Medium spinning. Jacks will hit most anything; whitebait, shrimp, jigs, spoons, streamers. Good fighters. Sport only. Tossem.
• None, unless starving. Meat is oily and strong tasting.
• Dolphin
• Game
• Under or near floating objects in open water.
• Medium to heavy. May weigh up to 30 lbs. Cigar minnows, whitebait, steamers.
• Delicious. Best grilled. Can be broiled. Meat is reddish-cream colored with white banding. Cooked meat is cream colored. This is the famous Mahi Mahi found in restaurants.
• Gulf Kingfish (Whiting)
• Game
• Surflines along beaches out to dropoff.
• Light. Mole crabs (sandfleas), cut squid, jigs.
• Good eating. Mild flavor. Best fried. Dip filets in buttermilk, coat with Fry Krisp, and deep fry in canola oil.
• King Mackerel
• Game
• Near shore to off shore
• Heavy. Strong fighters. Usually caught while trolling. Cigar minnows, ballyhoo, streamers, etc.
• Good, but a little fishy for some. Quite good when smoked.
• Mangrove Snapper
• Game
• Jetties, piers, mangrove islands, offshore near reefs.
• Medium-light. Mangroves average about two pounds but can reach six or more. Preferred bait is whitebait. Also, shrimp. Rarely, but sometimes will hit jigs.
• Excellent. Grilling preferred. Broil, bake, sautee, or fry.
• Pompano
• Game
• Surf lines, oyster beds, sand bottoms near grass beds.
• Light. Good fighters. Shrimp, clams, jigs.
• Delicious. Usually atop all culinary lists for best tasting piscine. Grill, bake, broil, sautee.
• Permit
• Game
• Sand flats, grass flats, surf lines, oyster beds, reefs.
• Same as above. Mostly sight fished while poling the flats. Flyrodding very productive.
• Same as above but most are released to fight again.
• Red Drum (Redfish)
• Game
• Around bridges and pilings, channels near grass flats, canals.
• Medium. Crabs, shrimp, whitebait.
• Good. Famous in blackened form but can be prepared in any fashion.
• Sheepshead
• Game
• Bridges, pilings, piers, docks, jetties, seawalls, etc.
• Medium-light. Clams, shrimp, mole crabs.
• Good eating but hard to skin and fillet.
• Snook
• Game
• Docks, piers, bridges, rocks, jetties, surf line on beaches.
• Medium. Similar to largemouth bass. Jigs, shrimp, whitebait. Many caught at night around lighted structures.
• Good. Tastes like bass. Large ones tend to have less flavor. Grill, broil, bake.
• Spanish Mackerel
• Game
• Near shore and off surf lines
• Medium. Jigs, plugs, streamers, whitebait. Move artificials fast. Spanish attack quickly and like the bait moving.
• Good. Grill or fry. Can be smoked like Kings.
• Spotted Seatrout
• Game
• Seaward of surf line on beaches, oyster beds, grass flats, etc. in bays.
• Light. Whitebait, shrimp, clams, jigs, spinners.
• Very good. Cook any way but do not over handle it while cooking.
• Tarpon
• Sport
• Channels, tidal runs, inlets.
• Heavy. Real tackle busters. Jigs, shrimp, crabs, whitebait.
• No food value. Tarpon are for sport only. A $50.00 stamp is required to kill a tarpon.
• Tripletail
• Game
• Near shore around floating or fixed objects. Located by sighting. Calm water and polarized sunglasses a necessity.
• Medium spinning. Live bait best. Mole crabs, shrimp, crabs, whitebait, jigs tipped with shrimp.
• Excellent. The flavor of Tripletail lends itself to broiling with lemon butter, grilling, baking, and in the Keys, frying.