I spotted this interesting fish at a nearby marina recently. It was nosing around the pilings, a behavior that reminded me of a Sheepshead but the color was definitely wrong.

A quick Google search identified it as a juvenile Atlantic tripletail (Lobotes surinamensis). Part of their common name derives from the long fins of the adult that extend back to the tail, giving the appearance of multiple tails.

It was a new fish species for me, though I’ve probably come across them before but just didn’t notice them. When they’re not foraging around pilings, they spend a lot of time floating sideways on the surface of the water, safely camouflaged among leaves and other debris.

A unique behavior my fish later demonstrated. A necessary adaptation because apparently they are thought to be delicious by both humans and other marine predators. Float on, little one!