Freshwater flounder native or exotic?

[handben]

During a recent dive in the Little River system near Branford, I spotted several small tannish colored "flounder" shaped fish. They were about 2-4 inches long and well camoflaged against the sand. When I tried to look these fish up, I found several references to aquarium freshwater flounder. I am just wondering if these were introduced exotic species (like the plecostamus found in Alexander Springs and Blue Springs Velusia County) or is a native species. It was a neat little fish to see though in a fresh water spring system.

 

[marchand]

They are called "hogchokers" and as far as I can tell they are native.

Hogchoker - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[LiteHedded]

but are they delicious??

 

[GLENFWB]

I found a few in Jug Hole a few months ago...is this the same type of fish you saw?

 

[karstdvr]

During a recent dive in the Little River system near Branford, I spotted several small tannish colored "flounder" shaped fish. They were about 2-4 inches long and well camoflaged against the sand. When I tried to look these fish up, I found several references to aquarium freshwater flounder. I am just wondering if these were introduced exotic species (like the plecostamus found in Alexander Springs and Blue Springs Velusia County) or is a native species. It was a neat little fish to see though in a fresh water spring system.

I am fairly sure this is native,especially since they are found in so many locations around Florida springs. Last Saturday I was guiding Indian,and spent the deco time counting the number of Flounder I found hidden-5 total.

 

[Dive-aholic]

I saw a bunch in Indian, too. The only other time I've seen these was during a couple of dives at Troy Springs a few months ago. They were everywhere there!

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

There in the Mill Pond, just not as prevelant I've seen them at Morrison, Cypress, Ginnie, etc as well.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I first saw them at Madison, but once you see them somewhere you start looking for them everywhere else and you will usually see them - at least in springs with fairly direct runs to a river or stream.

They are a species of sole rather than a flounder and like most soles are too small and bony to be useful as a food fish.

 

[karstdvr]

I saw a bunch in Indian, too. The only other time I've seen these was during a couple of dives at Troy Springs a few months ago. They were everywhere there!

Rob,what I saw that was real unusual just past the restricition,was a cave adapted fresh water shrimp. It had the normal white body,but the give away was the eye were pigmented,so it separated itself from the usual crayfish. I was so amazed that I almost forgot I had somebody behind me I was guiding.

 

[divinginn]

The only time I Have seen them was in troy springs on my checkout dives many years ago,I havent seen them in morrison or vortex,will have to look closer,they are pretty cool.:cool2: