Tomtate

Family Haemulidae, GRUNTS
Haemulon aurolineatum

Other local names: silver grunt

Description: bright orange mouth lining; light colored; gray to tan on back; yellow to brown stripe from head to base of tail fin; black blotch at base of tail fin fades away in larger specimens.

Where found: bottom fish found around reefs and hard bottom areas.

Size: can reach 10 to 11 inches, weighs less than 1 lb.

Commonly used to catch: larger fish

Remarks: not usually eaten due to small size.

*The Florida records quoted are from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and are not necessarily the most current ones. The records are provided as only as a benchmark.