Fishing on the Florida Gulf Coast is a fun and challenging way to spend your vacation or retirement, or if you're just looking for a new experience catching saltwater fish in a warm climate. There are a number of different types of fish to be found treading Florida's waters, and identifying them isn't very difficult with a little prior knowledge of what to expect when you cast your line.

King Mackerel

The King Mackerel is usually known by its nickname, Kingfish, and in some areas they're simply Kings. Preferring warmer waters, they're found in schools along the Gulf waters in the winter months, swimming further north during the spring and summer. Its color pattern is a blue-green sheen on the back, turning to silver scales on its sides and belly. They possess two dorsal fins they can tuck back for increased speed, along with pectoral and pelvic fins lining the body. A row of smaller fins can be found between the dorsal fins and the fish's tail.

Mahi Mahi

The Mahi Mahi is also called a Dolphin fish, but in order to avoid any potential mixups with an actual dolphin, this fish is more commonly called by its well-known Hawaiian name. They live an average of five years, but they grow rather large and are known to be hardy breeders, resulting in a numerous population. They're also known as one of the most brightly colored fish along the Florida coast, and most easily recognizable. The ridge on its back is dark blue, phasing into green on the sides and eventually yellow as you reach its belly. The males have a high, flat forehead. They're normally larger than the females, but both genders can grow up to 80 pounds. Mahi Mahi are usually found near objects floating on the water, as their diet mainly consists of the wildlife that resides there.

Tarpon

Preferring tropical waters Tarpon can be found throughout the Florida coastal region all year long, but summer is the season most fishermen plan to catch "the big one". The Tarpon is also called the Silver King, for two obvious reasons. First, it's almost entirely silver from its head to its tailfin, except for its back which can be either green or gray. Second, most Tarpon are quite substantial in size, usually ranging between 20 and 80 pounds, but sometimes weighing nearly twice that amount. The Tarpon's mouth is scooped and the bottom of its dorsal fin is noticeably elongated, making them more easily distinguishable from other similar-colored fish.

Source:

Fish4fun's Fish Identification Page

Indian River County's Guide To Saltwater Fish Identification

More Information:

Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission's Fishing Guide