Mycteroperca microlepis This oblong fish has small eyes over a pointed snout, and a continuous dorsal fin to a square caudal fin. Their colors vary by age and gender, but they range from gray to light brown with darker blotches or squiggles, giving it a faint marble pattern, or darker to a camouf
Danger to Humans There have been reported cases of ciguatera from human consumption
Rachycentron canadum This torpedo-shaped fish has a long, pointed face and slightly depressed head that swoops back to a row of spines spaced out in front of its dorsal fin. With triangular, curved fins and crescent tail, as well as dark olive-brown on top and silver grey below coloring, it resem
Danger to Humans There are 7-9 dorsal spines, each depressible into a groove, that
Echeneis naucrates These are very recognizable fish because of their highly modified dorsal fin that is an oval shaped sucking disc. They are as long as 43 inches, and slender, with lower jaws that extend much further than upper. They attach themselves to sharks, turtles, whales, large bony fish,
Danger to Humans Although considered harmless to humans, there have been some reports
Somniosus microcephalus This large, heavy-set shark grows to an average 8-14 feet long but can get to be 24 feet. It has a short, rounded snout, small eyes, and relatively small dorsal fins. Although it is an apex predator, it is a slow swimmer, and likely ambushes its prey and scavenges for
Danger to Humans According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) there has
Caranx hippos This large fish is wonderfully abundant in the Atlantic Ocean, and popular resource for both commercial and sports fishers alike. The juvenile is striped vertically along its sides, but as it matures, it changes to an even greenish-bluish above and silver or golden below. Usually ad
Danger to Humans There have been some reports of ciguatera poisoning associated with
Trachinotus falcatus This very tall, flat fish is most distinctive for its elongated dorsal and anal fins, and its deeply forked tail. It also has a series of dorsal rays, which give it its name „rough back“. These schooling fish hunt their prey inshore on sandy sea grass flats, but as they get o
Danger to Humans Lemon shark on grass flats where permit feed.
Gymnothorax funebris One of the largest of the morays, the green moray is often found at 6 feet long but can reach 8 feet and 65 pounds. Although it is actually dark grey-brown, it is covered in a thick yellow mucus, giving it its green coloring and protecting it from parasites and disease. Like
Danger to Humans Large green morays are potentially dangerous fish.
Carcharhinus limbatus This medium sized, stocky shark is dark grey to brown on top transitioning to white underneath. It has characteristically marked black-tipped fins. Blacktip sharks prefer to hunt small schooling fishes, taking out prey as they move quickly through the school, often breac
Danger to Humans Records from The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) show that
Epinephelus itajara This large, solitary fish will defend its territory when threatened, with aggressive body language and a rumbling sound it makes with its swim bladder. Its large, thick, elongated body can grow to over 8 feet long (and up to 800 pounds), from rounded snout and small eyes, to s
Danger to Humans Very large goliath grouper have been observed to stalk divers and
Epinephelus striatus These large, oblong fish can change both color and gender, and live at the rocky reef bottom of tropical Western Atlantic waters. They are usually a light buff to pink color with striking darker bars and spots, but can change to very light or very dark quickly. There is some
Danger to Humans There have been reports of ciguatera poisoning from human consumption
