THE GROUPER FAMILY
(_Serranidæ_)
The fishes of this family are characterized by an oblong body, more or
less compressed, covered with adherent scales of moderate or small size,
which are usually ctenoid; the dorsal and ventral outlines do not
usually correspond; premaxillaries protractile; teeth all conical or
pointed, in bands, present on jaws, vomer, and palatines; pseudobranchiæ
large; gill-membranes separate, free from isthmus; cheeks and opercles
scaly; preopercle usually serrate; opercle ending in one or two flat
spines; lateral line not extending on the caudal fin; lower pharyngeals
narrow, with pointed teeth; gill-rakers armed with teeth.
_Mycteroperca microlepis._ The Gag. Body comparatively elongate
and compressed; head 2-1/2; depth 3-1/2; eye 6; D. XI, 16 to
19; A. III, 11; scales 24-140-50; pores about 90; dorsal fin
single, its spines slender and weak; head long and pointed;
mouth large, the maxillary reaching beyond the eye; teeth in
narrow bands, each jaw with two canines; gill-rakers few, 12 on
lower part of anterior arch; scales very small, chiefly
cycloid; preopercle with a shallow emargination above the angle,
with radiating serræ; caudal lunate; lower jaw projecting.
_Mycteroperca falcata phenax._ The Scamp. Body elongate; head
3; depth 3-1/2; D. XI, 18; A. III, 11; eye 5; scales 24-135-43;
dorsal fin single, the spines slender and weak; head pointed;
mouth large, the maxillary reaching posterior border of the
eye; teeth in narrow bands, each jaw with two strong canines,
nearly vertical; preopercle finely serrate, a notch above the
angle; scales mostly cycloid; outer rays of caudal produced.
_Mycteroperca venenosa._ The Yellow-finned Grouper. Body
elongate; head 3; depth 3-1/4; eye 7; scales 24-125-_x_; D. XI,
16; A. III, 11; head rather blunt; mouth large, the maxillary
reaching much beyond the eye; teeth in narrow bands, each jaw
with two strong canines, not directed forward; preopercle
without salient angle, its emargination slight; dorsal fin
single, its spines not very weak; caudal fin lunate; anal
rounded.
_Epinephelus adscensionis._ The Rock Hind. Body robust, little
compressed; head 2-1/2; depth 3; eye 6; scales 12-100-40; D.
XI, 17; A. III, 7; head subconic, acute; anterior profile
straight; mouth large, the maxillary reaching beyond the eye;
lower jaw strongly projecting; teeth in broad bands, the
canines short and stout, those of the lower jaw the largest;
preopercle finely serrate, convex, with but slight
emargination; scales strongly ctenoid; dorsal fin single, its
spines strong; caudal fin slightly rounded; gill-rakers short
and thick.
_Epinephelus guttatus._ The Red Hind. Body rather slender,
moderately compressed, the back somewhat elevated; head 2-1/2;
depth 3-1/3; eye 4-1/3; scales 19-100-x; D. XI, 16; A. III, 8;
head long and pointed; mouth moderate, the maxillary reaching
below posterior margin of eye; lower jaw rather weak, its tip
little projecting; teeth rather strong, in moderate bands, both
jaws with two curved canines, those in upper jaw largest;
preopercle weakly serrate, with a salient angle, which is armed
with stronger teeth; caudal fin rounded.
Petrometopon cruentatus. The Coney. Body oblong, rather deep
and compressed; head 2-1/2; depth 2-3/4; eye 5; scales 8-90-30;
D. IX, 14; A. III, 8; head moderate, a little acute anteriorly,
profile nearly straight; mouth large, the maxillary reaching
beyond the eye; lower jaw not strongly projecting; teeth in
narrow bands, the depressible teeth of the inner series very
long and slender, those of the lower jaw and front of upper
especially enlarged, longer than the small, subequal canines;
preopercle convex, very weakly serrate, its posterior angle
obliquely subtruncate, without salient angle or distinct
emargination; opercle with three distinct spines; scales rather
large, and mostly strongly ctenoid; dorsal fin single, its
spines rather slender and pungent; anal fin rounded; pectorals
long; caudal fin very convex.
_Bodianus fulvus._ The Nigger-fish. Body oblong, moderately
compressed; head 2-2/3; depth 3; eye 5; scales 9-100-33; D. IX,
14 to 16; A. III, 8 or 9; head rather pointed, with curved
profile; mouth moderate, the maxillary reaching beyond the eye;
lower jaw strongly projecting; teeth in narrow bands, rather
large, the depressible teeth rather small, canines small,
subequal; preopercle with weak serrations, its outline convex,
with a shallow emargination; opercle with three distinct
spines; dorsal fin single, with slender and pungent spines;
scales rather large, mostly strongly ctenoid; caudal fin
truncate, its angles slightly rounded; pectorals long; ventrals
short.
_Diplectrum formosum._ The Sand-fish. Body elongate, the
profile strongly arched above the eyes; head 3; depth 3-1/2;
eye 5; scales 9-85-22; mouth large, maxillary reaching middle
of eye; lower jaw slightly projecting; canine teeth small;
preopercle finely serrate at upper margin; preopercle with two
clusters of divergent spines; opercular flap short and sharp;
top of cranium smooth and very convex; 11 rows of scales on
cheeks; fins, except caudal, scaleless; 15 scales before
dorsal; dorsal fin single, with low spines, the first three
graduated; caudal deeply lunate, the upper lobe the longest,
sometimes ending in a long filament.
THE GAG
(_Mycteroperca microlepis_)
The gag is one of the series of fishes known as groupers in Florida, of
which there are quite a number. It was first described by Goode and
Bean, in 1879, from West Florida; they named it _microlepis_, or "small
scale," as its scales are of less size than the other species of the
same genus. It is known only from the South Atlantic coast and the Gulf
of Mexico, from North Carolina south to Pensacola.
It has a rather long, shapely body, with pointed head and an evenly
curved profile. Its mouth is large, with projecting lower jaw. Both jaws
are armed with narrow bands of sharp teeth and two canines, the upper
ones directed forward. The predominating hue of the gag is brownish or
brownish gray, with lighter sides, in deep-water specimens; those of
shallow water, especially in grassy situations, are greenish or
olivaceous, mottled with a darker shade, and more or less clouded. Very
small and indistinct dusky spots sometimes cover the entire body, and a
faint mustache is usually present. The dorsal fin is olive; the top of
the soft dorsal fin rays is darker, with white edge; the caudal fin is
bluish black, with white edge. It is a voracious fish, feeding on small
fishes and crustaceans, and grows to a large size; twenty or thirty, or
even fifty, pounds in weight is not uncommon, though usually taken of
from six to ten pounds. It resorts, when large, to the banks and rocky
reefs in deep water. Those of less size frequent the inshore waters. It
is a fine food-fish, and a very game one on the rod.
A light striped-bass rod, or the natural bamboo chum rod, with good
multiplying reel and fifty yards of braided linen line, size E, and
Sproat or O'Shaughnessy hooks, Nos. 3-0 or 4-0, on gimp snells, with a
brass box-swivel for connecting snell and line, and a sinker adapted to
the strength of the tide, make up the tackle for the gag. A large
landing-net or a gaff-hook should not be forgotten.
Rod fishing is done in comparatively deep water on the rocky reefs or
shelly banks along the keys, from an anchored boat. Any natural bait, as
a small fish, crab, crawfish, or conch, will answer, though a small
fish, as the mullet, sardine, or anchovy, is the best. When of large
size the gag is a very gamy fish, and must be handled very carefully to
preserve one's tackle intact.
It is taken more frequently by trolling with a strong hand-line from a
sailing yacht, in the same way as trolling for bluefish. A small
silvery fish is the best lure, though a strong spinner or a shell or
block-tin squid answers well. Even a piece of bacon-rind cut in the
semblance of a fish proves very attractive, in the manner commonly used
by the fishermen of Key West in trolling for the kingfish.
The largest groupers can be taken on rocky bottom in the deep holes
about the inlets. On the south-east coast, Indian River Inlet, under the
mangroves, and Jupiter Inlet, both afford good grouper fishing. Farther
south, at Hillsboro and New River inlets, and in the deep holes about
the passes between the Florida Keys, from Cape Florida to Key West,
groupers are more or less abundant. The first gag I ever caught was in
the winter of 1877, while trolling off Cape Florida; it was a big one,
too, weighing about fifty pounds. "What is it?" asked a Kentucky boy who
was with me. I was compelled to look it up in my books before replying
that I thought it was a "scamp," as it agreed pretty well with the
description of that grouper, though I was not fully satisfied that my
identification was correct, and less so, when in about an hour we caught
a real scamp. This was some two years before the gag was described as a
new species by Drs. Goode and Bean, from Pensacola. As I had no means of
preserving the fish, it was baked for our dinner, and proved to be very
good indeed.
In fishing for groupers the angler must keep them well in hand so as to
prevent their getting into the holes and crevices of the rocks, as they
are sure to do if given the chance, and from where it is almost
impossible to dislodge them. They should be brought to the surface, or
near it, as soon as possible after hooking them, and kept there until
ready for the landing-net or gaff-hook. Most people in Florida fish for
groupers with hand-lines, but with the tackle recommended the fish will
be more easily subdued and landed, and the pleasure much enhanced, to
say nothing of the question of sportsmanship as between the two methods.
THE SCAMP
(_Mycteroperca falcata phenax_)
The scamp is a grouper that resembles very much the gag. It was first
described by the Cuban ichthyologist Poey, in 1860, from Cuban waters.
He named it _falcata_, or "scythe-shaped," from the curving of the
caudal fin. The form common to Florida is a variety or subspecies, that
differs principally in the angle of the canine teeth and to some extent
in coloration. The variety was first described by Jordan and Swain, in
1884, who named it _phenax_, meaning "deceptive," and equivalent to
"scamp." It is abundant along the Florida Keys and the offshore "snapper
banks," from Key West to Pensacola; those of smaller size frequent
inshore waters.
It resembles the gag very much in its general appearance and in the
shape of its body, with a somewhat larger mouth and more projecting
lower jaw, also a larger caudal fin, which is more crescentic or
scythe-shaped. The depth of its body is about a third of its length. The
teeth are in narrow bands, with two canines in each jaw, but these are
not so strong as in the Cuban form, and those in the upper jaw are not
directed so much forward, nor the lower ones so much backward. The
caudal fin is concave or crescentic, and the scales are larger than
those of the gag. The color is pinkish gray above, paler purplish gray
below; the upper part of the body and head is covered with small,
rounded, irregular dark brown spots; the sides and caudal fin with
larger and longer pale brownish blotches, somewhat reticulate; fins
dusky, some edged with white. Its habits are similar to those of the
gag, just described, in whose company it is found. It grows to a length
of two feet or more, and to ten pounds or more in weight. The remarks
concerning the tackle and fishing for the gag apply equally as well for
the scamp.
This fish, with the gag, is sometimes taken on the snapper banks by the
red-snapper fishermen, though it is not shipped to the northern markets
as it does not bear transportation so well as the red-snapper, and is
sold for home consumption or eaten by the crews. I first saw this fish
as has just been related, in 1877, when it was caught by a Kentucky
friend, and it had very much the same appearance as the gag. We then
decided that both fish were scamps, my friend remarking that "The only
difference is that this fellow seems to be more of a scamp than the
other one," an opinion I fully indorsed. The scamp does not stray so far
north as the gag, being confined to subtropical regions. It is regularly
taken to the Key West market by the commercial fisherman, where it
commands a ready sale, being well esteemed as a food-fish. The first
specimens I afterward preserved were secured from this source.
THE YELLOW-FINNED GROUPER
(_Mycteroperca venenosa_)
This grouper was first noticed by Catesby, in 1743, from the Bahamas,
and was named by Linnæus, in 1758, who bestowed the specific title
_venenosa_, or "venomous," as its flesh was said by Catesby to be
poisonous at certain times. It is common at the Bahamas, and from the
Florida Keys southward to the West Indies, and perhaps to South America.
Its form is very similar to the gag and scamp; its depth is a third of
its length. Its head is as long as the depth of the body, and rather
blunt, with the profile somewhat uneven, but curved; the mouth is large,
with narrow bands of teeth, and two canines in each jaw which are not
directed forward.
Not much is known concerning this fish, as its flesh is reputed to be
poisonous at times, and it is seldom eaten.
Its coloration is quite varied and beautiful; it is olive-green on the
back, pearly bluish below, breast rosy. The upper parts are marked with
broad reticulations and curved blotches of bright light green, which are
especially distinct on the top of the head; the entire body and head
are covered with orange-brown spots of various sizes with dark centres;
the iris of the eye is orange, as is the inside of the mouth; the dorsal
fin is olive-brown, with whitish blotches and a few dark spots; the
pectoral fin is yellow, and all other fins have black edges. Its habits
are similar to those of the other groupers. It grows to three feet in
length, and frequents rocky situations.
THE ROCK HIND
(_Epinephelus adscensionis_)
This grouper is one of the most bizarre and gayly colored in the family
_Serranidæ_. It was first accurately described by Osbeck, in 1757, from
Ascension Island, which accounts for its specific name, _adscensionis_,
as bestowed by him.
It is very widely distributed over both hemispheres, being known from
Ascension and St. Helena Islands, Cape of Good Hope, and is abundant
from the Florida Keys to Brazil. In outline it resembles the other
groupers, having a robust body, but little compressed; its depth is a
third of its length, its head is as long as the depth of the body, is
pointed, with a profile straight from the snout to the nape, thence
curved regularly to the tail. The mouth is large, with the lower jaw
more prominent or projecting than in any of the other groupers; the
teeth are in broad bands, with short and stout canines.
Its ground color is olivaceous gray, with darker clouds; the head and
entire body are profusely covered with red or orange spots of varying
size, those on the lower part of the body the largest, nearly as large
as the pupil of the eye; parts of the body and fins have
irregularly-shaped, whitish spots or blotches; there are several
ill-defined, clouded, blackish, vertical, or oblique blotches across the
body, some of them extending upward on to the dorsal fin, with the
interspaces lighter; the fins are likewise spotted with red and white.
The groupers known as "hinds," as the red, rock, brown, speckled,
spotted, or John Paw hinds, are so named from being spotted, and
resembling somewhat in this way the hind or female red deer. They are
all good food-fishes, and are found regularly in the Key West market,
though not so plentiful as the snappers, grunts, etc., but bringing a
better price. The rock hind, as might be inferred from its name,
frequents rocky situations about the channels between the keys, feeding
mostly on small fishes and marine invertebrates. It grows to a length of
eighteen inches. Its spawning habits have not been studied, though it
probably spawns in the spring.
A light bait-rod, similar to a black-bass rod, with corresponding
tackle, with hooks Nos. 2-0 to 3-0, on gimp snells, will answer for this
fish, using sardines or anchovies, which are abundant along the shores,
for bait.
THE RED HIND
(_Epinephelus guttatus_)
This beautiful grouper rivals the rock hind in its gay and varied
coloration. There is some uncertainty about the correct specific name of
this well-marked species. The last name to be adopted is _guttatus_,
meaning "spotted," conferred by Linnæus in 1758, based on the early and
vague descriptions of Marcgrave and others on specimens from Brazil and
the West Indies. It belongs to the West Indian fauna, its range
extending from the Florida Keys to South America; it occasionally strays
north in the summer to the Carolina coast.
It resembles the other groupers in its general form, but is more
slender, has a larger eye, and its lower jaw does not project so much.
The depth of its body is a little more than a third of its length. Its
head is long and pointed, considerably longer than the depth of its
body, with a mouth of moderate size, and a weak lower jaw, which
projects but slightly; the eye is very large; the teeth are in bands,
with two curved canines in each.
The pattern of the coloration and the markings are similar to those of
the rock hind, but differ in color. The upper part of the body is
grayish or yellowish olive, the belly reddish; the entire head and body
are profusely covered with scarlet spots of nearly uniform size, except
those on the breast and belly, which are a little larger; there are a
few spots, both red and whitish, on the bases of the fins; there are
three broad, oblique, obscure bands running upward and backward on the
sides, extending on to the dorsal fin; the upper fins are edged with
black; the pectoral fin is reddish yellow.
The red hind, like the rock hind, frequents rocky places and feeds
mostly on small fishes. It grows to a length of about eighteen inches,
and is an excellent food-fish. Not much is known concerning its breeding
habits, though it probably spawns in the spring. The same tackle
recommended for the rock hind, and the same baits, will do as well for
the red hind, as they are found together.
THE CONEY
(_Petrometopon cruentatus_)
This beautiful fish is allied to the groupers, and belongs to the family
_Serranidæ_, previously described. It was described and named by
Lacépéde from a drawing by Plumier, made from a specimen from
Martinique. Lacépéde recorded it in his "Natural History of Fishes,"
1803, conferring on it the name _cruentatus_, meaning "dyed with blood,"
in allusion to its red spots. It belongs to the West Indian fauna, with
a range extending from the Florida Keys to Brazil; it is quite common
about Key West, being seen in the markets every day.
The body has the somewhat elliptical outline of the other groupers, but
is more oblong and deeper, its depth being more than a third of its
length. The head is moderate in size, rather pointed, its length less
than the depth of the body; the mouth is large, with the lower jaw
projecting but slightly; the teeth are in narrow bands, the inner series
long, slender, and depressible; the canines small. Its ground color is
reddish gray, a little paler below; the head and body are covered with
bright vermilion spots, larger and brighter anteriorly.
It frequents rocky situations, like the coney of Holy Writ. It is highly
esteemed as a food-fish, but is of smaller size than the groupers
previously described, seldom growing beyond a foot in length or a pound
in weight. It probably spawns in the spring. It is quite a gamy fish for
its size on light tackle.
It is usually taken by the market fishermen on the same tackle as the
grunts, snappers, porgies, etc., among the rocks of the channels, in
rather deep water, with fish bait. It is well worth catching, if only to
admire its graceful shape and brilliant coloration.
For the coney, black-bass rods, braided linen line, size F, with Sproat
hooks, No. 2-0 or 3-0, on gimp snells, and sinker adapted to the
strength of the tide, with the smallest fish for bait, will answer
admirably. The little whirligig mullet, or spiny crawfish, or even
cut-fish bait, are all good baits to use as occasion may demand.
THE NIGGER-FISH
(_Bodianus fulvus_)
It is difficult to account for names, we know; but just why this
handsome fish should be called "nigger-fish" is hard to imagine. It is
sometimes called yellow-fish, a better and more descriptive name,
but no doubt nigger-fish it always will be. It differs from the other
groupers in the less number of spiny rays in the dorsal fin; otherwise
it is much the same. It was described by Linnæus, in 1758, from
the account of the "yellow-fish" by Catesby, in 1743, from the Bahamas.
Linnæus named it _fulvus_, or "tawny," from its coloration. This is
also a fish belonging to the West Indian fauna, its range extending
from the Bahamas and the Florida Keys to South America.
[Illustration CATCHING SPANISH MACKEREL ON THE EDGE OF THE GULF
STREAM]
The outline of body of the nigger-fish is similar to that of the hinds,
being nearly elliptical, and with a depth of a third of its length, and
moderately compressed. The head is long and pointed, longer than the
depth of the body, with an evenly curved profile from the snout to the
dorsal fin; the lower jaw projects very much; the mouth is large, with
narrow bands of teeth, and small canines. Its general color is yellow,
darker or orange-red on the back, with two black spots on the tail;
there are a few violet spots about the eye, and some blue spots on the
head and anterior half of the body, those on the head with dark margins;
the head, and pectoral and dorsal fins, are reddish.
The nigger-fish is found in the deeper channels in rocky situations. It
feeds on small fishes principally. It is not very common, and is much
prized as a food-fish by the people of Key West. The common varieties
are the red and brown nigger-fishes, which differ only in coloration
from the yellow ones. It is taken with the other channel fishes, and
with the same baits and similar tackle, by the market fishermen; but the
angler should utilize his black-bass rod, with braided linen line, size
F, and hooks No. 2-0 on gimp snells. As it is a bottom feeder a sinker
must be used to keep the bait at the proper depth. For baits, any small
fish or sea-crawfish or prawns or shrimps will answer.
I was once fishing for channel fishes in sight of Key West, and having
just landed a nigger-fish. I asked my boatman, a Bahama negro, why it
was so called. He answered in the lingo peculiar to both white and black
Bahamians:--
"Vell, maybe it's along of its yaller and red color, for niggers is
right fond of yaller and red; but vether that's the horigin of its fust
name is 'ard to tell. Now, Hamericans calls us Bahama people conchs
'cause we eats conchs, but nigger-fish don't eat niggers, no more does
jellyfish eat jelly. I think they are called nigger-fish 'cause they is
so 'andsome."
THE SAND-FISH
(_Diplectrum formosum_)
The sand-fish, or, as it is sometimes called, the squirrel-fish, also
belongs to the family _Serranidæ_. It was first described by Linnæus, in
1766, from Dr. Garden's specimens from South Carolina; he named it
_formosa_, or "handsome," from its pretty form and coloration. It
inhabits the Atlantic coast from South Carolina to South America, and is
common to both coasts of Florida, and especially about the keys. It has
a rather elliptical body in outline; its depth is less than a third of
its length, being elongate and rather slender as compared with other
allied species. The head is as long as the depth of the body, with an
arched profile above the eyes; the mouth is large, the lower jaw
projecting a little; the upper border of the cheek-bone is serrated,
with two clusters of small, sharp spines; the teeth are in narrow bands;
the canine teeth are small.
Its color is light brown above, silvery white below; there are several
dark and broad vertical bars across the body, and a dark blotch at the
base of the caudal fin; the body has eight narrow bright blue
longitudinal stripes, which are more distinct above, and paler below;
the head is yellow, with several wavy blue stripes below the eye and
several between the eyes; the upper fins have blue and yellow stripes,
and the caudal fin has yellow spots surrounded by bluish markings.
It frequents sandy shoals, and also rocky shores, feeding on small
fishes and crustaceans. It is a good pan-fish, growing to about a foot
in length, but usually to six or eight inches. The same tackle and baits
used for the hinds, coney, and nigger-fish will also answer well for the
sand-fish, which consists of black-bass rod, braided linen line, size F,
hooks No. 1 or 1-0, and suitable sinker and swivel. It is a good
game-fish for its size on the light tackle just mentioned, and is well
worth a trial on account of its beauty, and excellence for the table,
even if its gameness is not considered.
While engaged in a scientific expedition to Florida many years ago, my
vessel ran aground one afternoon in Barnes Sound, south-west of Biscayne
Bay. The bottom was a sandy marl and quite soft, so that we were unable
to use the setting poles to any advantage in moving the boat. I observed
quite a school of fish surrounding the vessel, which proved to be
sand-fish. I put out a stake to mark the stage of the tide, and while
waiting for the flood tide I put in the time fishing, and soon had
enough sand-fish for supper and breakfast. This was rather fortunate, as
we were still aground the next morning, for strange to say the depth of
the water had neither increased nor diminished for sixteen hours; there
was no tide in that remote corner of the universe. We then took out the
ballast of about a ton of pig-iron and put it in the dory we had intow.
This lightened up the vessel enough to enable us to shove her off into
deeper water. I think we never enjoyed any fish quite so much as those
delicious little sand-fish, and it has ever since been one of my
favorite fishes.