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The Knobbed Porgy fish identification, habitats, characteristics, Fishing methods
Knobbed Porgy, Calamus nodosus, Family Sparidae, Porgies, also known as Key West Porgy, occur in the western Atlantic from North Carolina southward to and including most of the Gulf of Mexico, including the Florida Keys, the Bahamas and Cuba.
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Knobbed Porgy have deep body; front profile very steep; nape projects strongly in large adults; body generally silvery, with a rosy cast; cheek and snout dark purplish gray, with many bronze spots; large blue spot at axil of pectoral fin.
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Description
The knobbed porgy have a deep, compressed, almost triangular- shaped body, strongly flattened from side-to-side. The head strongly slopes steeply upward, giving the nape a knobby, protruding appearance, especially in large adults. The tail fin is forked. The first dorsal fin has about 12 spines. Knobbed porgy have strong jaws with molar-like teeth, as well as heavy teeth in their throat called pharyngeal teeth used to crush the hard-shelled food in their diet. Knobbed porgy seem to prefer to eat more, smaller food items rather than fewer larger items.
The color is silver with a rosy or bluish-greenish iridescence. The snout is dark gray purplish, with many small yellowish to bronze dots under the eyes. Pectoral fin has large blue spot.
It most look like Jolthead porgy, however the forehead profile of the Jolthead is less steep and is bulging rather than straight. Both species can grow to 5 pounds, but are more common at 1 to 2 pounds. The Knobbed Porgy are approximately 18 inches. They can live 17 years and begin spawning at age 4.
Habitats
Knobbed Porgy preferred range is gulf wide on hard bottom at depths from 50 to 300 feet deep. They usually prefer to live in subtropical waters over reefs, ledges, wrecks and other hard bottom areas; knobbed porgy are usually deeper than 80 feet.
Knobbed porgies have powerful jaws that they use to eat bottom-dwelling creatures such clams, snails, barnacles, crabs, and starfish. Small fish are consumed but to a lesser degree. Being speedy enough to take small fish and having both incisors and molars powerful enough to crunch through the shells of hard-bodied animals gives the knobbed porgy a variety of food options.
Spawning
Spawning season is yearly, during the months of April through July in offshore waters. Typically, the peak season occurs in May and June. Knobbed porgy reach sexual maturity at 4 to 5 years of age. Females lay thousands of eggs, which are fertilized eternally and scattered on open water. The eggs are not guarded.
Knobbed porgies are mostly protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning that they begin life as females and at some point later in life change to males. Females made up 88 percent of all fish fewer than 17 inches long. Males made up 72 percent of fish over that length.
Fishing Methods include Drifting or Still Fishing with light spinning and baitcasting tackle and multiplying reel, with live or dead shrimp and various cut baits. While the knobbed porgy is valued by both the commercial and sport anglers, anglers pursuing grouper or snapper usually take these fish. Because of this the common equipment used is medium to heavy ocean tackle. Bait-casting or spinning light rods are a good choice if angling exclusively for this species. Knobbed porgy are strong, but not particularly impressive if unspectacular fighters. The preferred bait is cut pieces of fish or squid. Drifting and still fishing are both common methods. Usually caught over coral reefs or patchy bottom in 70 feet of water or more.
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