Id

[TitusvileSurfer]

I didn't think about posting this here for identification until after the fact. I wish I had a full body shot. It looked almost like a scorpion fish and I didn't want to touch it. Caught it fishing in NASA's Mosquito Lagoon. I've been fishing here for 23 years and never seen anything like it. Perhaps it was a release from an aquarium? I caught with live shrimp (which you can see in its mouth).

 

[Grouperhead]

Toadfish. Either oyster or gulf, not 100% sure. But definately toadfish.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Your right! I looked it up and the "gulf toadfish" is an exact match. Thank you!

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

When I caught it, I thought it may be poisonous hence the towel. Then again, I thought it was a scorpionfish. I'm getting mixed reports of venom in my research, what is your take?

 

[LisaD]

I don't believe they are venomous. I had one for many years, an orange one. It ate everything and was a really cool fish (but I like the funny looking oddballs).

 

[Grouperhead]

They have sharp dorsal and pelvic spines, but no venom to my knowledge. I've caught tons of these guys over the years fishing for trout around grass beds, etc. in the Northern Gulf. They can be a real pain because they don't want to open their mouth to be unhooked, and they would love nothing more than to bite your finger at the first chance. Lovely little critters, ain't they?

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Yeah I'll say, boy sure had some teeth. I just can't believe I had never caught one before. Fishing is my favorite pass time next to surfing, and I've dipped a line in that river every week or so for 20 years. Now I'm usually scouting snook, redfish, sheepshead, trout, or black drum. Mullet and lures are normally my choice of bait. You would think one of these guys would have grabbed some cut bait or something though.