St. George Island is a barrier island off Florida's northern Gulf coast. Renowned for white sand beaches, plentiful shelling opportunities, flatwoods of slash pine, bird life, and other natural splendors, the island contains Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park at its eastern end (See Reference 1). Fish abound in the surrounding waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Apalachicola Bay, and St. George Sound.
Observe the fish's general shape. Would you call it slender, stocky, or flattened? Bullet-shaped or rotund? A barracuda or lizardfish typify slim fish, their lean bodies far longer than wide. By contrast, flounders and rays illustrate the vertically-flattened form of bottom-haunting fish. Angelfish epitomize the deep-bodied form.
Check the fins. Consider shape, number, and relative size. Some species, like pompano, have extended dorsal and/or anal fin bases, for example. Others, like the tarpon, may have "streamers" extending from one or more fins (in the tarpon's case, from the dorsal base).
Look at color and pattern. Many coastal fish in Florida are brightly and intricately-colored. To get the most out of a brief sighting, try to note whether color is uniform or patterned. Is the fish vertically-barred, like a wahoo, or horizontally-striped, as in some squirrelfish? Key into the fins: Are they marked prominently? Basic observations such as these can dramatically narrow the field of contenders. Flip through your field guide and look for pictures of fish with similar coloration or decoration as that you've seen.
Define the fish's habitat: Does it live near shore? Offshore? Is it a bottom substrate? The sand sea trout favors mud or sand-floored waters in relatively deep waters, either offshore or in nearshore "holes." Young flounders are more common close to shore than mature individuals (See Reference 2).
Note the behavior: Is the fish solitary, like a grouper? Or is it traveling in a school, as with the pompano? Hugging the bottom like a ray, or actively cruising like a tarpon? Any other behavioral observations can help you hone your identification.
