Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council - The latest news for you

Fish Identification Some of the species we manage, like red snapper and hogfish, are so iconic that you would be hard-pressed to mistake them for something else. Others, aren’t so lucky. The following is a complication of Gulf Currents articles published to help ensure that you’re not making identification mistakes. Knowing how to properly identify different species will help ensure that you don’t cheat yourself out of your bag limit or accidently keep something you shouldn’t.  Imposters! The Other Red Snappers and How to Identify Them Photo Credit: Thomas Holmes What's the Difference? Most of us take for granted how easy it is to identify the most popular fish in the Gulf because their obvious bright red color is a dead giveaway. Believe it or not, there are at least 4 other species of snapper in the Gulf that could be mistaken for red snapper. Two of the other red colored snapper species, vermilion and queen snapper, are pretty easy for the average angler to recognize, while two of them, blackfin and silk, are commonly mistaken for red snapper... Read More Imposters! The Other Jacks and How to Identify Them What's the Difference? Greater amberjack is clearly the most targeted of the jack species in the Gulf. Mature greater amberjack are easy to discern from the others simply because they grow much larger than their jack family members. The tricky part is differentiating jack species when they’re small and let’s be honest, it’s not easy, even for the most seasoned fishermen... Read More Photo Credit: Carrie Simmons You Had Me at Yellow…The Yellow Groupers and How to Identify Them Photo Credit: Taylor Borel What's the Difference? Whether it’s their edges, their mouths, or their fins that define them, the yellow-groupers in the Gulf are some of the best eating fish around. Despite the similarities suggested by the “yellow grouper” names: yellowmouth, yellowedge and yellowfin, they are actually fairly easy to tell apart. Telling the difference between scamp and yellowmouth can be a bit trickier... Read More Emily Muehlstein, Public Information Officer | 888-833-1844 ext.2380 | Contact Us

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