Saltwater Redfish

You're in the Gulf of Mexico, fishing the mangrove flats, when you get a tug on your rod that feels like you've just hooked a whale. After awhile, with a lot of fortitude and drag, you finally land the fish. It's likely that it's a saltwater redfish, but you need to identify it before you can be sure.

Estimate the size of the fish. If it feels as if you have hooked a whale, you likely have a redfish. A juvenile reaches sexual maturity at 10 to 20 pounds and an adult redfish is generally less than 40 pounds. Redfish can, however, weigh as much as 90 pounds.

Examine the overall color of the fish. A redfish is not truly red. Instead, they are copper or bronze in their bodies, with large scales. You will find one to a cluster of spots at the base of the fish's tail, a clear marker of a redfish.

Inspect the tail. In redfish, the fin at the end of the tail will have a bright strip of turquoise.

Look at the fish's face. A saltwater redfish has a chin without barbells, commonly called whiskers. A redfish also has a mouth that is horizontal, opening downward.

Note: The above information is taken form ehow.com