By the opposite token, this section does not include many species which, while routinely used for bait, are also widely sought for fun food. Among those must be counted not only such popular panfish as Grunts and Pinfish, but even a few highly regarded gamefish, like Mackerel and Bonito. Those you will find, of course, in their appropriate pages. All Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean. Most common around reefs and shoalsk, but widespread from deep water to larger bays.
Several species occur in our waters, but only two are prominent.
Their ranges overlap and their appearance is so similar that few anglers care about distinguishing them. The ballyhoo, shown here, has a short pectoral fin and the upper lobe of its tail fin is gray. The Balao, Hemiramphus balao, has a long pectoral fin and the upper lobe of the tail is reddish. Both species average 10-12 inches, but commonly reach 15 or 16 inches. Not bad, but seldom eaten.