1/3/2024 0 Comments Sheepshead fish pictures![]() Their fishery is unregulated in most parts of their range (except for coastal waters of the southeast United States). The Sheepshead Porgy is a resident of all Mexican waters of the Atlantic Ocean including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.įrom a conservation perspective the Sheepshead Porgy is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations. It is often confused with its namesake, the Sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus, which is also from the Porgy Family but has an oval fusiform body profile. The Sheepshead Porgy is very similar in shape to seven other Porgies found in Mexican waters of the Atlantic, however, it is the only Porgy with a significant barring pattern on its sides. Each female releases thousands of eggs which are fertilized externally by males then become pelagic. They are protogynous hermaphrodites with all fish starting out as females and changing to males at midlife. They are bottom dwellers that feed primarily on invertebrates including barnacles, crabs, mollusks, polychaetes, sea stars, and sea urchins. As of March 31, 2022, the International Game Fish Association world record stood at 3.95 kg (8 lbs 11 oz) with the fish caught in coastal waters of Brazil in January 2007. They reach a maximum of 46 cm (18 inches) in length, with typical fish being approximately 28 cm (11 inches), and they can weigh up to 1.0 kg (2 lbs 2 oz). Juveniles are found within seagrass beds ( Thalassia). They are found over hard bottoms, within ledges and caves, within coral reefs and associated gravel, and in grass and sand areas along the outer continental shelf at depths up to 91 m (300 feet). The Sheepshead Porgy is a common coastal species and are abundant throughout most of their range. Their anal fin has 3 spines and 10 or 11 rays and has a short base their caudal fin is forked their dorsal fin has 12 or 13 spines and 12 rays and is low and, their pectoral fins are short just reaching to the anal fin origin. They are equipped with molar teeth on the sides of each jaw and equal sized canines at the front of each jaw that are used to crush hard shell prey. They have a blunt snout with a moderately large mouth that reaches under the front edge of their eyes. Their head is deep and evenly convex, and lacks a steep upper profile. Their head has no blue, orange or yellow markings. They have a small black spot at the base of their pectoral fin. They have a dark brown bar under their eyes and most fish also have a blue-gray line under their eyes. They have approximately 7 dark bars on their sides which fade quickly upon death. Overall they have a silvery coloration with iridescent blue, lavender, and yellow reflections. The Sheepshead Porgy is characterized by their “porgy-like” laterally compressed relatively thin body that has a depth that is 40% to 42% of standard length and is deepest at the base of the beginning of the dorsal fin. Globally, there are thirteen species in the genus Calamus, of which nine found in Mexican waters, eight in the Atlantic and one in the Pacific Ocean. Their common name is derived from their teeth resembling those found in sheep. The Sheepshead Porgy, Calamus penna, is a member of the Porgy or Sparidae Family, and known in Mexico as pluma manchada. ![]() ![]() Catch, photograph, and identification courtesy of Ben Cantrell, Sebastian, Florida. ![]() ![]() Fish caught from coastal waters off Sebastian, Florida, November 2021. Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Luke Ovgard, Klamath Falls, Oregon. Fish caught off coastal waters off Alexander Springs, Florida, April 2019. Catch, photograph, and identification courtesy of Josh Leisen (), Gaylord, Michigan. Fish caught from coastal waters off Key Largo, Florida. Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Eli (). Fish caught from coastal waters off Marathon, Florida, July 2018. Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Marc Eberlein, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Fish caught from coastal waters off Big Pine Key, Florida, February 2017. ![]()
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