Spotted Scorpion Fish

Up to a foot; usually less. World record 3 pounds, 7 ounces.

Lionfish, Rascacio

Coral reefs and patches; rocky areas. Found mostly in shallow coral reef and rocky areas. Lies motionless on the bottom. Feeds mostly on other fishes and crustaceans. Moderately common below about 5 m depth to at least 55 m. Displays characteristic bright white spots on dark background of pectoral axil when disturbed. Anterolateral glandular groove with venom gland

Several species occur in Florida and the Tropics, of which the one most familiar to anglers is the rather large Spotted Scorpionfish, shown here. Scorpions have many spikes dotted over the head and gill covers, but their main defensive weapons are the dorsal spines, which carry venom that can be painful and debilitating to a careless angler, but not fatal. Color is usually a mottled red or brown. Pectoral fins large and fanlike. Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5. Occipital pit present; three to four spines on part of preorbital overlapping maxillary; large white spots on dark background on inner basal part of pectoral fin (unclear in specimens smaller than 3 cm SL)

Oviparous

Summary of Distribution: Western Atlantic: Bermuda, Massachusetts, and northern Gulf of Mexico to southern Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: Ascension and St. Helena.
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)

	Trawling Trawling is when....

Reef-fishing outfits with cut baits.