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Species: Pomatomus saltatrix, the Bluefish

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elongate
D VII-VIII + l, 23-28
A II-III, 23-27
teeth: 1 row, compressed, triangular, fixed together
membrane flap over bone below preoperculum
soft D & A: scale covered
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This Species (8) This Genus (1) Similar Species (4)

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Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus, 1766)

Bluefish

Body sturdy, elongated, compressed; head large; mouth large, opens at front, lower jaw sometimes projecting; jaw teeth prominent, triangular, sharp, compressed, fixed together, in a single row; preopercle with a membrane flap over bone below it; two dorsal fins: VII-VIII weak, short spines + I, 23-28 low, long soft dorsal; anal fin a little shorter than soft dorsal, II-III, 23-27; tail fin moderately forked; pectorals short; pelvics inserted before pectoral base; scales small, covering head, body and bases of vertical fins and all of soft dorsal and anal; lateral line complete, straight.

Greenish blue above, silvery below; dorsal, anal and tail fins green, tinged with yellow; pectorals dark blue at base.

Reaches 130 cm; 14.4 kg.

Schooling inshore in coastal waters and offshore, prefer clean, high energy waters, although can be found in estuaries and brackish water.

Depth range: 0-200 m.

Temperate and subtropical worldwide except for the absent from the Indo-central Pacific north of the equator, and all of the E Pacific. Nova Scotia  to Argentina.

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Species Data Create Report Export as Word File Export as Excel File
Salinity
  • Marine
  • Brackish
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore Only
  • Inshore
Water Column Position
  • Near Surface
  • Mid Water
  • Water column only
  • Surface
Habitat
  • Water column
  • Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
  • Estuary
FishBase Habitat
  • Reef Associated
  • Pelagic
Feeding Group
  • Planktivore
  • Data
  • Carnivore
Diet
  • Bony fishes
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
  • Octopus/squid/cuttlefish
  • Zooplankton
  • Data
Egg Type
  • Pelagic
  • Pelagic larva
  • Data
Global Endemism
  • Circumtropical ( Indian + Pacific + Atlantic Oceans)
  • Greater Caribbean non-endemic
  • All species
Regional Endemism
  • Extends North of GC
  • Continent
  • Extends South of GC
  • Island (s)
  • Continent + Island (s)
  • GC non-endemic
  • Extends N + S of GC
  • All species
  • Also in Brazil
  • Continental primarily
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
  • Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
  • Temperate (>35N)
  • Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
IUCN Red List
  • Listed
  • Vulnerable
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 130
Depth Range Min
  • 0
Depth Range Max
  • 200