Sea Tails

Did you know…
Mahi Mahi, also known as dorado or dolphinfish depending on the country, are considered one of the most sustainable pelagic protein sources in the ocean? They grow extremely fast, often reaching over 30 pounds in their first year, reach sexual maturity in only about 4 to 5 months, and reproduce frequently throughout the year. A single female can release hundreds of thousands to over a million eggs in a spawning season, although only a tiny fraction of fry survive to adulthood, often estimated at far less than 1 percent in the open ocean. Mahi are also aggressive predators that consume roughly 5 to 10 percent of their body weight daily, fueling their rapid growth and short life cycle.

Have you seen this before?

Have you seen this before? 👀

I need help identifying this fish.

I found it in a shallow freshwater creek near the Peace River on Florida’s west coast, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours from the nearest saltwater or brackish habitat. The deepest part of the creek was only about a foot to a foot and a half deep, which made this find even more confusing.

The fish was about the size of a quarter and appeared to show traits associated with juvenile flounders during metamorphosis. Flatfish actually begin life like normal fish fry, with one eye on each side of the head, before one eye gradually migrates so both end up on the same side of the body as they mature.

From what I’ve researched, some juvenile flounders and soles can tolerate freshwater and occasionally travel surprisingly far inland through connected waterways, but finding one in such a shallow freshwater creek was completely unexpected.

So now I’m wondering:Is this some type of freshwater tolerant flounder or sole?Could juvenile flatfish travel farther inland than most people realize? Or am I misunderstanding part of their life cycle?

If anyone knows more about Florida flatfish or juvenile flounders, I’d love to hear your thoughts.