The Atlantic spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber) is commonly associated with many of Georgia’s near and offshore reefs and other structured habitats. However, like many of our state’s marine fishes, spadefish are also reliant on Georgia’s vast estuaries for a safe haven before they get large enough to move offshore to deeper waters.

Spadefish have a blunt snout, small mouth and what’s known as a laterally compressed body (think flattened from side to side). Their namesake comes from their spade-like bodies, which aids in their ability to easily maneuver around structures.  Adults are silver to grey in color with 4-6 distinct black bars on their body that can fade in color as they get older.  While most of the spadefish we catch in the EFMC trawls can easily fit in the palm of our hands adult Atlantic spadefish can reach up to three feet in length and weigh up to 20 pounds! Juvenile spadefish exhibit the same black bars that adults possess, but their bodies tend to be dark brown to black in color. This darker coloration helps the smaller fish better blend into their estuarine surroundings. In fact, juvenile spadefish are known to swim at an angle or float tilted on their side to blend in with drifting debris like leaves or other floating organic material in the water column. Small invertebrates like crustaceans and mollusks are common prey items for smaller spadefish, but they will also eat plankton; larger spadefish are also known to feed on jellyfish, particularly the common Cannonball jellyfish.

Fun Fact: These structure-loving fish are known to travel in schools which can range in size from a few individuals to several hundred fish!