The Tooth & Spine Bunch

Hardhead Catfish
Gafftopsail Catfish
Gulf Toadfish
Needlefish
Houndfish
Inshore Lizardfish
Atlantic Cutlassfish

A great many saltwater fish are capable of administering grievous wounds with teeth, spines or gill covers, but the following ones are especially dangerous, because they are frequently encountered and, all too often, handled hastily and without due care. They are grouped together here mainly because most anglers consider every one of them a nuisance, even though both the Gafftopsail Catfish and Houndfish are sporty and good eating.

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OTHER NAMES: Marine Catfish, Sea Catfish, Seacat, Bagre
RANGE: All Florida coasts. Not found in the Bahamas; scattered in the Caribbean, mostly the large islands.
HABITAT: Lives anywhere in near-shore waters, but is most common in bays, harbors and coastal soft-bottom flats.
DESCRIPTION: Dingy gray on back and sides with white or silvery underside. Four fleshy barbels under the mouth and two more at corners of mouth. Forked tail. First spines of dorsal and pectoral fins are stiff and sharp and coated with venomous slime that can make a wound hurt for hours. Careful!
SIZE: Most run 1 pound or less, but may reach more than 4. World record 3 pounds, 5 ounces.
FOOD VALUE: Poorly regarded but pretty good.
GAME QUALITIES: Pulls pretty hard but gives up easily.
TACKLE AND BAITS: Any sort of light tackle will do, canepole, spinning or baitcasting. Eats shrimp and cut bait. Sometimes strikes artificial jigs and plugs.
FISHING SYSTEMS: Drifting; Still Fishing.

OTHER NAMES: RANGE: HABITAT: DESCRIPTION: SIZE: FOOD VALUE: GAME QUALITIES: TACKLE AND BAITS: FISHING SYSTEMS:

RANGE: All Florida coasts.
HABITAT: Rocky areas, usually in shallow water.
DESCRIPTION: The large, flat head and spiny dorsal fin and gill covers give the Toadfish a sinister look. Contrary to the belief of many fishermen, however, the Toadfish, though capable of administering minor hurts with its mouth and spines, is not venomous. The body is mottled brown and tan overall. The pectoral fins are large and rounded, and the tail is round as well. A smaller cousin, the Oyster Toadfish, Opsanus tau, is also encountered.
SIZE: Less than a foot long.
FOOD VALUE: Skip it.
GAME QUALITIES: Good strikes; no pull.
TACKLE AND BAITS: Not targeted; usually caught by bottom fishermen using cut baits.
FISHING SYSTEMS: Still Fishing.

OTHER NAMES: Agujon
RANGE: All Florida coasts, the Bahamas and Caribbean.
HABITAT: Needlefishes, seem to be everywhere, from the open sea to well up coastal streams into fresh water, always at the surface, and always on the alert for an un-weighted bait.
DESCRIPTION: There are several species. All are nuisances to anglers. They are characterized by slender bodies and long, thin bills; both upper and lower beaks are equipped with many sharp teeth.
SIZE: Usually 1 foot or less; some reach 3 feet or so. World record 3 pounds, 4 ounces.
FOOD VALUE: Not bad, but not much meat.
GAME QUALITIES: Poor, despite a lot of thrashing.
TACKLE AND BAITS: Extra-light gear can provide some sport with extra-large Needlefish, but anglers generally try to avoid them. Needlefish will bite anything, and have a particular liking for small strips and bits of shrimp.
FISHING SYSTEMS: Drifting; Still Fishing.

OTHER NAMES: Giant Needlefish, Guardfish, Agujon
RANGE: All Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
HABITAT: Common in the open seas, from reefs to blue water. Also found inshore, usually in areas of clear water and over deeper patches and grass beds.
DESCRIPTION: Recognizable by the bars on its side near the tail, as well as by its bulk, compared to other Needlefishes. It poses more of a threat while jumping than while being handled. If one jumps close to the boat-duck.
SIZE: Averages a yard in length and can top 5 feet. World record pounds, 11 ounces.
FOOD VALUE: Very good, but seldom eaten in Florida.
GAME QUALITIES: Wild fighter; spectacular jumper.
TACKLE AND BAITS: If targeting Houndfish, choose light spinning gear with small live baitfish or strip baits. A good fish for the fly rodder, too. Most catches, though, come incidentally to trolling.
FISHING SYSTEMS: Drifting; Still Fishing; Trolling.

OTHER NAMES: RANGE: HABITAT: DESCRIPTION: SIZE: FOOD VALUE: GAME QUALITIES: TACKLE AND BAITS: FISHING SYSTEMS:

OTHER NAMES: RANGE: HABITAT: DESCRIPTION: SIZE: FOOD VALUE: GAME QUALITIES: TACKLE AND BAITS: FISHING SYSTEMS: