Calamus nodosus
Knobbed Porgy
Knobbed porgy have deep bodies. The head slopes steeply upward, giving the nape a “knobby,” protruding appearance, especially in large adults. The body is silvery with a rosy or bluish-greenish cast and the cheek and snout is dark grayish purple, with many yellow spots. The tail fin is forked. The first dorsal fin has about 12 spines.
Knobbed Porgys prefer to eat bottom-dwelling creatures such as snails, crabs, sea urchins, starfish, clams and barnacles. Small fish are consumed but to a lesser degree.
These fish 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.
Knobbed Porgy usually prefer to live in subtropical waters over reefs, ledges, wrecks and other hard bottom areas, knobbed porgy are generally found near the sea floor at depths of 23 to 300 feet, but usually deeper than 80 feet.
The Knobbed Porgy are approximately 18 inches.
5 pounds, 12 ounces (IGFA)