Fish Id: A Guide To East Coast Fishes

Lizardfish, Inshore ( family Synodontidae) 
Synodus foetens

Also known as sand pike. 6-8" long. Overall brown/green body with blockish spots laid out in horizontal rows. Paler brown under belly. Slightly protruding eyes towards top of head. Jaw ends behind the eyes, mouth full of spiny teeth. Mouth has distinctive shape as seen, right. Since they like the shallows, you are likely to catch this fish near shore while fishing for just about anything; they eat worms, small fish, crabs, and shrimp. Range is the entire east coast from Cape Cod on south.
NOT edible, will make you sick, classed as poisonous.
Sample Courtesy of Bill Trapp

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