The abundance and variance of beautiful marine life inhabiting the greater Daytona Beach area draws so many visitors and fishing enthusiasts alike to its waters. Whether you’re right off the shore or deep at sea, there are so many different species of fish that you’ll encounter at the end of your fishing line on a Captain Daddy fishing charter which is why we’re taking the liberty of introducing you to some of our most common friends! Read on for more information regarding several of the species that we target when you cast a line with us.

Redfish

One of the feistier fish that we will encounter, redfish can weigh upwards of 50 pounds and are renowned for their “bulldog”-like fighting style. Posing a challenge to even experienced fishers, these fish are sensitive to movement and can act very skittish as our boats draw near. The redfish are distinguished by the dark red or copper color that covers their back and fades into their white stomach as well as a unique black spot on their tail. These fish have special muscles that rub against their inflated air bladder which produces a drumming type of sound, hence one of their other identifications as red drum.

Flounder

A type of flatfish, flounder are typically found on the ocean floor as they wait patiently for prey to pass by. With the remarkable ability to change the color of their body in order to blend in with their environment for optimal ambushing, the flounder’s emotional state may also determine their color – when threatened, they tend to take on paler hues. At the early stages of their life, the flounder is a “normal” fish as it has one eye on each side of its face but as they become bottom dwellers and lay on their side, the eye on their covered side will migrate to their dominant side which is why flounder are divided into two basic categories of righteye and lefteye.

Snook

The snook is another species of fish that is prized for its fight, similar to the redfish, as it often has remarkably long runs while on the line and can even jump through the air while it’s still being reeled in. These fish are also known to be one of the most delicious species, but it is illegal to buy or sell snook, so the only way to taste it for yourself is to come catch one with Captain Daddy! With that in mind, cleaning these fish properly is of the utmost important as a snook that has not been cleaned correctly may have a soapy taste.

Goliath Grouper

Goliath Grouper are another delicious species of fish with monstrous size to match. They have an average weight of around 400 pounds, but certain types of grouper can even exceed 1000 pounds. Due to their natural flavor and the challenge of reeling in these behemoths, groupers were sought excessively, and the population could not keep up, so some protections were put in place to prevent overharvesting. These giants travel slowly and often swallow their prey whole despite having multiple rows of teeth. Once a grouper gets hooked, they will immediately try to get back to a place of safety – usually rocks or structures – so the key to reeling in this species is lots of strength and persistence.

Barracuda

As the most lethal predator on this list, barracuda are capable of traveling at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour which enables them to not just catch up to unsuspecting prey but also escape their own predators, such as whales and sharks. They are curious and drawn to shiny objects, meaning that they like to hunt prey with golden or silver scales, and they are also very responsive to sounds – they are more likely to investigate than to flee. Because of these things, the best lures to use for barracuda are those that imitate prey fleeing quickly through the water in order to trigger a strike.