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By Helen Petre

Have you ever wondered what was swimming around at the beach, in the bays, and the dune lakes? Even if you don’t see them, there are living things in the water all around you. What are those little fish swimming around your legs? Most are juveniles, searching for protection in shallow, coastal water and sea grass. The most common are pinfish, but many juveniles seek protection in shallow coastal water, and feed in bays or the shallow dune lakes. Here are a few. You can catch them in dip nets if you are quiet and quick.

Pinfish
Pinfish have sharp spines on the dorsal fin, providing the common name. They are prey for pelicans, gulls, turtles, dolphins and herons, so their life span is short. When he was seven E.O Wilson lost vision in his right eye when a pinfish he caught jumped and struck him in the eye.

Silverside
Silversides are abundant year-round hiding in grass beds from their larger predators.

Pipefish
Pipefish are slow swimmers but blend in with the sea grasses for protection. They are related to seahorses, which are also found in our grass beds. The males of both pipefish and sea horses carry the eggs in pouches, while the females swim unburdened.

Needlefish
Needlefish look like pipefish but there are major differences. Needle fish have teeth, are predators, and swim at the surface of the water.

Striped Mullet
Any time you see a fish jump out of the water, you can bet it is a mullet. Mullet are important commercial and recreational fish found year-round in our waters. You can see them jumping while standing on the beach, but they are bottom feeders, most common in grass beds eating algae. According to locals, mullet fries with beans and grits are a panhandle staple. The striped mullet, or black mullet, is most often food, but we also have white mullets.

There are many other fish you can find in our waters, sea grass beds, and dune lakes. Finding fish makes for a good day. Enjoy the waters.

Pinfish photo by UFL Rock O’Connor

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