Group 6 - MIDWATER AND SCHOOLING FISHES

This group contains a variety of fishes that are commonly seen or caught at Gray's Reef but which are only indirectly or occasionally associated with rocky reef structures. Like jacks and mackerels, most are pelagic or midwater species that tend to aggregate or orient themselves near reefs temporarily. The role of reefs, both natural and artificial, in attracting pelagic fishes is not fully understood but Gray's Reef provides a good example of the phenomenon.

Family Ephippidae (spadefishes)

ATLANTIC SPADEFISH Chaetodipterus faber

Body very deep, compressed; relatively long second dorsal and anal fins; distinct broad dark bands on body which are less distinct in large adults and very small juveniles. Often mistaken for an angelfish, it is common in schools of from 10 to 100 or more individuals near rocky outcrops at Gray's Reef and is often seen near or at the surface. Spadefish feed on jellyfish and other gelatinous plankton and, at times, graze on reef organisms . Massachusetts to Brazil. 12-25 in.

Family Clupeidae(herrings)

ATLANTIC THREAD HERRING Ophisthonema oglinum

Body color silvery with a dark shoulder spot: sharp keel on the belly (bony scutes); no teeth; gill rakers long, filamentous; last dorsal fin ray elongate; anterior edge of the shoulder girdle under the gill cover bi-lobed. Large schools of this silvery baitfish are common at the surface at Gray's Reef . Cape Cod to Brazil. 7 in.


SPANISH SARDINE Sardinalla aurita

Body slender, color silvery, scutes(thickened scales) on belly form a sharp keel, elongated last two anal fin rays resembling a finlet. A densely schooling baitfish, it is common in the vicinity of Gray's Reef. Massachusetts to Brazil. 4-6 in.


ATLANTIC MENHADEN Brevoortia tyrannus

Body silvery with brassy tint, darker above, numerous spots in adults and larger dark shoulder spot, fins yellowish. Schools of hundreds to hundreds of thousands visible as dark patches at the surface. Commercial harvest exceeds all other species in the U.S. North Carolina to Florida. 10 in.

Family Pomatomidae (bluefish)

BLUEFISH Pomatomus saltatrix

Lower jaw projects forward, dorsal fin folds into a groove, a pair of free spines precede the anal fin, preopercle serrated, second dorsal and anal fins similarly shaped. Known for its voracity, the jack-like bluefish is the only member of its family and is a prized gamefish. Nova Scotia to Argentina. 36 in.

Family Rachycentridae (cobias)

COBIA Rachycentron canadum

Body elongate, head broad and flat, dorsal and anal fins low and long, caudal fin lunate (concave), color brownish with a broad lateral stripe (more contrasting in juveniles). It is often seen swimming shark-like in pairs or small groups near the surface at Gray's Reef. The cobia is superficially similar to the sharksucker (Echeneis naucrates). New Jersey to Brazil. 40-50 in.

Family Echeneidae (remoras)

SHARKSUCKER, REMORA Echeneis naucrates

Body elongate, flat adhesive disc on the top of the head, fleshy flap on the lower jaw, dark stripe along the sides. The sucking disc, characteristic of all remoras, is a highly modified spinous dorsal fin which is used to attach to whales, dolphins, sharks, rays, bony fish, turtles, and even ships. They do not damage their hosts but merely hitch a ride. The attachment is so firm that sailfish and sharks have been landed with their guest remora still attached. They are frequently seen attached to nurse sharks at Gray's Reef. Nova Scotia to Uruguay. 30 in.

Family Coryphaenidae (dolphins)

DOLPHIN, DOLPHINFISH Corypltaena hippurus

Body elongate, compressed; dorsal fin long; head profile steep (older males with very steep bony crest); brilliant metallic gold and blue coloration. A smaller species, the pompano dolphin (C equiselis), has a deeper body, a concave rather than forked caudal fin, short (less than 1/2 head) non-pigmented pectoral fins, and a broad square rather than oval tooth patch on the tongue. Mainly an oceanic and Gulf stream predator, this prized food and game fish is occasionally seen or caught near Gray's Reef, especially near large floating patches of Sargassum seaweed. Tropical and sub-tropical seas worldwide. 60-70 in.

Family Sphyraenidae (barracudas)

GREAT BARRACUDA Sphyraena barracuda

Body slender; jaws long with narrow pointed teeth; back gray-green, sides silvery with dark irregular spots and blotches. Often seen in aggregations near the surface and near the reef itself, they are regularly abundant at Gray's Reef. The barracuda's fearsome reputation is largely based upon its appearance rather than actions since attacks on humans are rare. Small individuals are similar to the guaguanche (S. guachancho), the northern sennet (S. borealis) or the southern sennet (S. picudilla). Massachusetts to southern Brazil, eastern Atlantic, and western Indo-Pacific. 2-4 ft.