Abaco Fish ID Chart | Catching Gapseed

Reef

Nassau grouper

Epinephelus striatus

Locals say: Grouper

How to spot it: Tan with five dark vertical bars, a dark "tuning fork" mark on the forehead and a black saddle spot near the tail.
Where: Coral reefs and ledges, often resting near holes.
Eating: Excellent — a Bahamian favorite.
Rules: Closed Dec 1 – end of Feb. Minimum 3 lb.

Reef

Black grouper

Mycteroperca bonaci

How to spot it: Olive to grey with rectangular brassy blotches. Larger and longer than a Nassau grouper.
Where: Deeper reefs and drop-offs.
Eating: Excellent. Very large fish carry some ciguatera risk.
Rules: Counts toward the demersal limit.

Reef

Hogfish

Lachnolaimus maximus

Locals say: Hog snapper

How to spot it: Pig-like snout, with the first three dorsal spines long and trailing. Males have a dark face.
Where: Sandy bottoms near reefs and grass beds.
Eating: Among the best-eating reef fish — sweet white fillets.

Reef

Mutton snapper

Lutjanus analis

Locals say: Mutton

How to spot it: Olive-green back, pinkish sides, a small black spot below the dorsal fin and blue lines on the face.
Where: Reefs, flats edges and channels.
Eating: Excellent.

Reef

Yellowtail snapper

Ocyurus chrysurus

Locals say: Yellowtail

How to spot it: Bright yellow stripe running from the snout to a deeply forked yellow tail.
Where: Over reefs, often chummed up to the boat.
Eating: Excellent — mild and flaky.

Reef

Grey snapper

Lutjanus griseus

Locals say: Mangrove snapper

How to spot it: Grey to reddish with a dark stripe through the eye. Has two prominent canine teeth.
Where: Mangroves, docks, creeks and reefs.
Eating: Very good.

Reef

Queen triggerfish

Balistes vetula

Locals say: Turbot

How to spot it: Blue and yellow with bright blue lines on the face and long trailing fin tips. Tough, leathery skin.
Where: Reefs and rubble.
Eating: Very good once skinned — the "turbot" of Bahamian menus.

Watch out

Lionfish

Pterois volitans

How to spot it: Red-and-white stripes with long, feathery, venomous spines.
Where: Everywhere: reefs, wrecks and docks. It is invasive.
Eating: Delicious once the spines are removed.
Rules: Invasive — spear or catch as many as you like. Handle with care, because the spines are venomous.

Watch out

Great barracuda

Sphyraena barracuda

Locals say: 'Cuda

How to spot it: Long silver body with dark blotches on the lower sides and a mouth full of fangs.
Where: Flats, reefs and open water.
Eating: Most locals avoid eating them because larger fish can carry ciguatera.

Offshore

Mahi-mahi

Coryphaena hippurus

Locals say: Dolphin

How to spot it: Electric green, blue and gold. Bulls have a tall, blunt forehead.
Where: Offshore, often under weed lines and floating debris.
Eating: Excellent.
Rules: Part of the 18-fish pelagic limit per vessel.

Offshore

Wahoo

Acanthocybium solandri

How to spot it: Long, torpedo-shaped body with tiger-like blue bars and a beak-like snout. Very fast.
Where: Deep water along the drop-offs.
Eating: Excellent — firm white meat.
Rules: Part of the 18-fish pelagic limit per vessel.

Offshore

Yellowfin tuna

Thunnus albacares

How to spot it: Dark blue back with long yellow second dorsal and anal fins, and yellow finlets.
Where: Offshore, deep blue water.
Eating: Excellent — sashimi grade when fresh.
Rules: Part of the 18-fish pelagic limit per vessel.

Offshore

Blackfin tuna

Thunnus atlanticus

How to spot it: Smaller tuna with a dark back and dusky, not yellow, finlets.
Where: Offshore and along the drop-offs.
Eating: Very good.
Rules: Part of the 18-fish pelagic limit per vessel.

Flats

Bonefish

Albula vulpes

Locals say: Bones

How to spot it: Silver "ghost of the flats" with a pointed, downturned snout and faint dark stripes along the back.
Where: Shallow sandy and grassy flats.
Eating: Catch and release only.
Rules: Catch and release. A flats fishing licence is required.

Flats

Permit

Trachinotus falcatus

How to spot it: Deep, round silver body with long sickle-shaped fins and a blunt head.
Where: Flats edges, channels and wrecks.
Eating: Catch and release on the flats.
Rules: Flats fishing licence required.

Shellfish

Spiny lobster

Panulirus argus

Locals say: Crawfish

How to spot it: No claws. Long spiny antennae, and a tail with light spots.
Where: Under ledges and in holes during the day.
Eating: The best of the season — grilled, cracked or in salad.
Rules: Season Aug 1 – Mar 31. Carapace 3⅜" or larger. No berried females.

Shellfish

Queen conch

Aliger gigas

Locals say: Conch

How to spot it: Large pink-lipped spiral shell. Adults have a thick, flared lip.
Where: Seagrass beds and sandy bottoms.
Eating: Cracked, fritters, salad — a national dish.
Rules: Only take conch with a well-formed lip. Limit 6 per vessel.

Shellfish

Stone crab

Menippe mercenaria

How to spot it: Heavy black-tipped claws on a brownish body.
Where: Rocky bottoms and grass beds near shore.
Eating: Sweet claw meat.
Rules: Season Oct 16 – May 31. Claws at least 4".