They swell up, they blow up, they puff up. Their unusual defense against predators makes this blowfish a hoot. Northern puffers are found on the Atlantic coast of North America from Newfoundland to Flagler County, Florida, over sand bottom near or in and around seagrass in waters ranging from 3 to more than 600 feet […]
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The Atlantic wahoo is prized by recreational fishermen, with recreational landings totaling more than 2.4 million pounds in 2019, but it’s also sometimes mistaken for another well-known gamefish, and there are a number of challenges related to management of the species. Frequently confused with king mackerel, wahoo are found in tropical and subtropical waters around […]
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The word “Tarpon” conjures images from fishing lore of large, silvery fish making spectacular leaps out of the water when hooked. Atlantic tarpon are actually closely related to eels. They may not look at all like their cousins when adults, but their larval stages are considerably more similar. Also known as “the silver king,” tarpon […]
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While “shark attack” is an often-used term, it’s not really accurate because sharks don’t seek out humans to “attack,” they’re just doing what comes naturally in the wild. Sharks are opportunistic feeders and occasionally bite a surfer or swimmer if they venture into murky waters and splash a lot at the surface. This splashing action […]
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Greater amberjack are often called “reef donkeys” by fishermen because of their strength and stubbornness. These powerful fighters can test any anglers’ tackle and ability to land them. Greater amberjack are commonly caught while anglers are pursuing king mackerel. They have a deeply forked tail like that of tuna. Fishermen catch this species by drifting […]
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Hogfish are strange-looking members of the wrasse family. Their first three dorsal spines are long and trailing, extending several inches off their dorsal fin. This species is more laterally compressed, or flattened from side to side, and more oval-shaped when compared to other marine fish in the wrasse family. They have cool, red irises in […]
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Kingfishes, a group of fish found in North Carolina waters, are members of the drum family and are cousins to other familiar species including spotted sea trot, spot, Atlantic croaker, as well as red and black drum. If you were to hold a red drum and southern kingfish side by side and cover their bodies, […]
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North Carolina is home to numerous species of crustaceans and shellfish in many shapes, sizes and colors. This is our second installment taking an in-depth look at some of the more popular and interesting animals in this category that call coastal North Carolina their home. Read Part 1, NC’s Crustaceans, Shellfish Make A Big Splash. Hard […]
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