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Filefish

Species > Filefish

There are many species of filefish that inhabit both the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico in Florida. Filefish are not good swimmers due to their wide, compressed body. Filefish are usually encountered in a sargassum weed line, on inshore towers and shallow reefs alone or in loose groups feeding mostly on algae and seagrass.

Filefish on black backgroundfilefish in the water

Filefish change their colors to blend with their environments - the fish on the left was encountered in sargassum, the one on the right is on a reef in the Keys.

Scrawld filefish are the most common encountered in Florida waters.

2 scrawled filefish in the water on a reef

Filefish grow to around 24 inches and are very popular in China and Korea as a food fish; here in Florida it is not targeted as a sport fish but can make a great meal for the adventurous pallet although only the unicorn filefish is to only species of filefish allowed to take for consumption. The rough, leather-like skin was used in the past as sandpaper and the dorsal spine as a tool. Today this fish is a popular aquarium fish. Please review Florida rules on harvesting marine life for aquariums if you plan to harvest this species for your fish tank.

several baby filefishfilefish in a hand

Lisa F. caught this filefish in March 2017 in Florida.

blue spotted scrawld filefish on a fishing hook out on the water

The filefish below was caught by Drew S. in Sarasota Bay in July 2015. He said it has an orange spike that lays down on it's head.

man with blue surgical gloves holding a 6 inch tilefish on a dock

 

star icon NOAA filefish images