[PCDAVE]

I was Grouper fishing in 130' out of Panama City, Fl. Someone in our group caught the fish described below. Anyone know what is was? Or does someone know a website with reef fish pictures that I could search.

About 13 - 15" long, light orange/tan color, body was round shape like a small football, dorsal fin was large and rounded with a black false eye spot, tail fin was also large and rounded with a black false eye spot, it ate a pinfish about 4" long, it looked like it probably pretends to be a rock with two fans growing on it.

 

[Bodupp]

I don't have the website link for you, but the South Carolina DNR has a good fish ID page. Maybe you'll have luck with a Google search.

 

[markw4321]

Sounds like a
Scorpion fish. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...1j8-1.2.0...0.0...1ac.1.t-uPWZgK0Bs&mvs=0#i=3

 

[PCDAVE]

Closest thing I can find on Google images is Stonefish or Scorpion fish. But none of the pictures have the same rounded fins with false eye spot.

 

[Yaksquatch]

Frogfish?

 

[afishanado]

Look up pic of Oyster Cracker aka: Toadfish.

 

[CatHunter]

ocellated frogfish

 

[Duke S]

stargazer?

 

[PCDAVE]

Ocellated Frogfish is it. Thanks for the help. For some reason I couldn't get it out of my mind.

 

[20simmons sea skiff]

wasnt in my book, fishs of the gulf

 

[WhackUmStackUm]

wasnt in my book, fishs of the gulf

Here is a link to a bit more info.

I spotted about 10 of these guys recently while diving at 175'.

 

[CatHunter]

If you skin that thing it looks like a chicken, and they taste great:thumbsup:

 

[PCDAVE]

It was so ugly we were scared to touch it. We unhooked it with pliers and released it.

 

[aquaholic]

look like this?