South Venice

J. P.'s Fish Ratings

  • SPECIES
  • TYPE
  • HABITAT
  • TACKLE
  • EDIBILITY
  • Greater Amberjack
  • Game
  • Pelagic. Offshore in deep water. Sometimes over wrecks or reefs.
  • Heavy. AJ's can run large and are real tackle busters. Usually caught on live bait such as blue runners or cigar minnows, but they will hit dead baits and even streamers.
  • If keepers are bled after being caught and the entire red strips on each side are totally removed, the amberjack is epicurean. Best grilled. The meat is firm, with a consistancy like chicken.
  • Bluefish
  • Game
  • Near shore or in larger bays.
  • Medium spinning. Blues will hit whitebait, shrimp, jigs, and spoons.
  • Good if eaten while meat is still fresh. Some people hate it, some love it. Used frequently as crab substitute.
  • Blue Runner (Hardtail)
  • Sport
  • Everywhere
  • Light. Good fighters. Usually caught when fishing for some other species. Tossem or use as bait for larger species.
  • None. Meat is unpalatable and the fish are had to clean.
  • Cobia
  • Game
  • Under or near buoys, pilings, floating flotsam, jetties.
  • Medium-heavy. Cobia are usually large and strong. Shrimp, clam, whitebait, jigs.
  • Very good. Meat is creamy-white with a yellow tinge when fresh. Grill, broil, bake, fry.
  • Cravalle Jack
  • Sport
  • Near shore, inshore, bays, inlets.
  • Medium spinning. Jacks will hit most anything; whitebait, shrimp, jigs, spoons, streamers. Good fighters. Sport only. Tossem.
  • None, unless starving. Meat is oily and strong tasting.
  • Dolphin
  • Game
  • Under or near floating objects in open water.
  • Medium to heavy. May weigh up to 30 lbs. Cigar minnows, whitebait, steamers.
  • Delicious. Best grilled. Can be broiled. Meat is reddish-cream colored with white banding. Cooked meat is cream colored. This is the famous Mahi Mahi found in restaurants.
  • Gulf Kingfish (Whiting)
  • Game
  • Surflines along beaches out to dropoff.
  • Light. Mole crabs (sandfleas), cut squid, jigs.
  • Good eating. Mild flavor. Best fried. Dip filets in buttermilk, coat with Fry Krisp, and deep fry in canola oil.
  • King Mackerel
  • Game
  • Near shore to off shore
  • Heavy. Strong fighters. Usually caught while trolling. Cigar minnows, ballyhoo, streamers, etc.
  • Good, but a little fishy for some. Quite good when smoked.
  • Mangrove Snapper
  • Game
  • Jetties, piers, mangrove islands, offshore near reefs.
  • Medium-light. Mangroves average about two pounds but can reach six or more. Preferred bait is whitebait. Also, shrimp. Rarely, but sometimes will hit jigs.
  • Excellent. Grilling preferred. Broil, bake, sautee, or fry.
  • Pompano
  • Game
  • Surf lines, oyster beds, sand bottoms near grass beds.
  • Light. Good fighters. Shrimp, clams, jigs.
  • Delicious. Usually atop all culinary lists for best tasting piscine. Grill, bake, broil, sautee.
  • Permit
  • Game
  • Sand flats, grass flats, surf lines, oyster beds, reefs.
  • Same as above. Mostly sight fished while poling the flats. Flyrodding very productive.
  • Same as above but most are released to fight again.
  • Red Drum
  • Game
  • Around bridges and pilings, channels near grass flats, canals.
  • Medium. Crabs, shrimp, whitebait.
  • Good. Famous in blackened form but can be prepared in any fashion.
  • Sheepshead
  • Game
  • Bridges, pilings, piers, docks, jetties, seawalls, etc.
  • Medium-light. Clams, shrimp, mole crabs.
  • Good eating but hard to skin and fillet.
  • Snook
  • Game
  • Docks, piers, bridges, rocks, jetties, surf line on beaches.
  • Medium. Similar to largemouth bass. Jigs, shrimp, whitebait. Many caught at night around lighted structures.
  • Good. Tastes like bass. Large ones tend to have less flavor. Grill, broil, bake.
  • Spanish Mackerel
  • Game
  • Near shore and off surf lines
  • Medium. Jigs, plugs, streamers, whitebait. Move artificials fast. Spanish attack quickly and like the bait moving.
  • Good. Grill or fry. Can be smoked like Kings.
  • Spotted Seatrout
  • Game
  • Seaward of surf line on beaches, oyster beds, grass flats, etc. in bays.
  • Light. Whitebait, shrimp, clams, jigs, spinners.
  • Very good. Cook any way but do not over handle it while cooking.
  • Tarpon
  • Sport
  • Channels, tidal runs, inlets.
  • Heavy. Real tackle busters. Jigs, shrimp, crabs, whitebait.
  • No food value. Tarpon are for sport only. A $50.00 stamp is required to kill a tarpon.
  • Tripletail
  • Game
  • Near shore around floating or fixed objects. Located by sighting. Calm water and polarized sunglasses a necessity.
  • Medium spinning. Live bait best. Mole crabs, shrimp, crabs, whitebait, jigs tipped with shrimp.
  • Excellent. The flavor of Tripletail lends itself to broiling with lemon butter, grilling, baking, and in the Keys, frying.
Size Limits

Link to listing of size and creel limits.

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