Freshwater Fish ID question

[Traffic]

Yesterday were fishing some canals in south west Palm Beach County. While fishing the north bank of the canal I saw a large fish, 30 inches or more, that looked like a small nurse shark or a cobia. We startled it so only got a quick look at it. It made such a splash that I wrote it off as a small gator because I could not believe my eyes.

A few moments later Nick and I drifted up to an open spillway where we both saw 2 of these fish swim under the boat. We could not believe our eyes. These were not the big black sucker fish we often see fishing canals. They were a tan color, a little lighter than a typical nurse shark. They were not Bowfin or Snakeheads. Has anyone ever seen these or know what they could be?

[mandaferret]

I would assume that gar is out of the question. The only other choices would be sturgeons (very, very rare) or if the canal is connected to saltwater bull sharks. Try to catch one/ get pictures.

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The fish was not a gar and the nose was pointy. I thought sturgeon when I saw it but thought that was ridiculous. I thought sturgeon were more panhandle fish.

We don't plan to go back any time soon but if we do I will mount a camera on the hull facing the bank to hopefully catch a shot of it. I think these canals may lead directly to Lake Okeechobee but I will have to trace them back on Google Earth to be sure.

[mandaferret]

I have never personally seen sturgeon this far south (I live in Martin County) but it is possible. I find this topic very interesting. In fresh, a 30" fish is big for most species. If it is possible, a drawing would be useful to identification. I have caught small bull sharks up rivers such as at Jonathan Dickinson on the Loxahatchee, but it is rare for one to get all the way where you have seen it.

[Traffic]

I'm still at the office finishing a report but did do a quick Google search of south Florida sturgeon. The short nose sturgeon has the closest silhouette.

I'm thinking they may have been released by someone or are escapees from an aquaculture project.

The water was clear and they were not like anything I had ever seen before.

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OOps.

[Bass2bucks]

Maybe a big chain pickerel?

[RemoteRedsTrout]

Doubtful, but maybe a grass carp? Probably not a tarpon either

[capt louie]

Snook ?

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It was not a snook.

The grass carp is closest but the nose was pointy and the pectoral fins were well defined triangles that were extended out.

It did not have the markings of a pickerel and the nose had a more defined point than a pickerel. It had a very even skin color.

It was not hot and I had not consumed any alcoholic beverages ( just in case anyone is wondering) so i wasn't seeing things.

Now I'm going to have to go back out there to look for it!!