What is This Fish? We're at a Loss

By Jim Field

Last spring we caught this fish approximately 20 miles south-south-west of Diamond Shoals bouy. At the time (and for the prior two years), the Sea Ya Bea was homeported at Teach's Lair marina in Hatteras Village. We were "extreme" bottom fishing in roughly 600 feet of water, using 4:1 reels with braided line, hand-cranking them up. We were having lots of success with tiles and grouper--and then this thing appeared.

We caught exactly one, and have not caught another since, despite many return trips. In the photo it is shown laid out on our coffin cooler in the cockpit, measuring approximately 15-18 inches in length. At the time, we expected to catch more; we haven't. When we took it back to the marina, the fish mongers couldn't identify it. (I thought they would be experts on all things aquatic; they're not.) I've looked at perhaps a dozen guide books depicting Atlantic fish; it's not shown.

As you can see, the fish was absolutely beautiful, it's orange coloring almost tropical. Similarly, look at the front-lower (presumably pectoral) fins: they taper off into thin, flowing, elongated, wispy, structures that I associate with aquarium fish.

A six-pack of beer to the person who nails its lineage! We'll let you know what we discover.