Palometa: Trachinotus goodei

Appearance:

• Grayish-blue-green on top of head and along the back
• Bright silvery sides
• Yellow on breast
• Elongated dorsal and anal fins
• Dusky or black with bluish edges
• Deep body, with four narrow bars high on the sides, and traces of a fifth fin nearer the tail
• No scutes

Habitat:

Palometa are most common in clear water along sandy beaches and bays, and occasionally found over reefs.  They are most common in south Florida.

Behavior:

This fish is thought to spawn offshore in during the spring, summer, and fall.  Palometa have shown rapid growth in mariculture experiments. 

State Record:

This species is not currently eligible for a state record.

Fishing Tips and Facts:

Palometa readily strikes small artificial lures.

Additional Information:

Similar Fish: pompano, T. carolinus; permit, T. falcatus.

Image Credit: Diane Rome Peebles