Fish ID

[bigbills]

I was out fishing on Saturday when somone reeled up a sponge. This little guy rode it up until he flopped out on the deck. I scooped him up and put it in a bucket. We we in about 80' of water off Apalachicola, FL. He came up so fast that his swim bladder was all out of whack, so I had to vent it by poking a small hole behind one of its pectoral fins. I figured his chances of survival would be just as good in my aquarium, so he came home. He's in my quarantine tank for now. I wanted to find out what it was before adding it to my display. Any thoughts? It looks like something in the grouper family, maybe some kind of hind.

 

[luca brasi]

Don't know but, it looks like some hogfish.

 

[naso140]

looks like a hogfish to me too

 

[bigbills]

Nope, not a hogfish. It's jaw isn't structured like a hog's.

 

[teresaq]

some type of hawk fish ??
T

 

[bigbills]

I thought about that, but I'm not aware of any hawkfish native to the Gulf of Mexico.

 

[spanko]

Acts like a hawk in the video and resembles some color variant of Amblycirrhitus (red spotted)

which are found in the Caribbean.

 

[bigbills]

Found it!
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spec...ry.php?id=3348
It is a "Belted Sandfish", Serranus subligarius. I knew it was in the grouper family. Thanks for the suggestions though.

 

[spanko]

Well done BigBills!!!!