Sand Perch

Less than a foot; average is 6-8 inches.

Coral Snapper, Squirrelfish, Bolo

Sand Perch are found from bays and shorelines to well offshore over a variety of bottoms. They seem to prefer rather open bottom with patches of grass or scattered rock, and they also like deep channels. Inhabits bays, coastal grassy areas and shallow banks. Solitary and retreats into shelter when frightened. Neither opercular spine nor anterolateral glandular grooves with venom gland is present. Synchronously hermaphroditic.

Slender, cylindrical shape, with large mouth and wide tail. Color is tan with brown vertical bars or blotches, and full-length horizontal lines of blue and orange. Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7 - 8. Body pale brown dorsally with several vertical dark brown bars, becoming white ventrally; dorsal fin dusky with longitudinal yellow lines; pectoral, pelvic and anal fins dusky; caudal fin dusky with small yellow blotches. Preopercle has spines radiating from 2 centers

Simultaenous hermaphrodite. The gonad contains ovarian and testicular tissue separated by a thin basement membrane, with no means of internal self-fertilization.

Summary of Distribution: Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA, the northern Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas southward to Uruguay. Occurrence in western Caribbean is doubtful
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)

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Sand Perch are often fished for deliberately, whether for supper or for bait (they are a staple bait among Gulf Tarpon fishermen, and also are excellent for grouper). Best tackle is a light spinning outfit. Small jigs, either plain or tipped with a piece of shrimp or cut bait, will produce the most, but any sort of bottom rig and natural bait will do the job.