Goldentail MorayorSpotted Moray
Two fish anglers mix up. Here is what separates them, and what each one’s rules are in your state.
How to tell them apart
Goldentail Moray
Dark brown moray peppered with small yellow spots; yellow tail tip.
Goldentail moray, next to spotted moray: dark with small yellow spots.
Spotted Moray
Pale moray densely covered with dark spots and blotches; the common Florida reef eel.
Spotted moray, next to goldentail moray: larger dark blotches on a pale ground.
Side by side
| Goldentail Moray | Spotted Moray | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Gymnothorax miliaris | Gymnothorax moringa |
| Also called | — | — |
| Waters | Nearshore | Nearshore |
| Heaviest state record | — | — |
| On the table | Not a food fish. | Not a food fish — ciguatera risk. |
| Rules of its own in | 2 states | 2 states |
Rules for
Every state, both fish
Where either fish has a rule, the two are regulated the same. The name still goes in the log and on the tally.
| State | Goldentail Moray: size · bag · season | Spotted Moray: size · bag · season |
|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregateYear-roundOpenFWC 2026 · likely · checked | No size limit5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregateYear-roundOpenFWC 2026 · likely · checked |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregateYear-roundOpenFWC 2026 · likely · checked | No size limit5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregateYear-roundOpenFWC 2026 · likely · checked |
In the app
Point the camera at the fish and Chum names it before you take the picture, goldentail moray or spotted moray, with the right rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask
How do you tell goldentail moray from spotted moray?
Goldentail Moray: Dark brown moray peppered with small yellow spots; yellow tail tip. Spotted Moray: Pale moray densely covered with dark spots and blotches; the common Florida reef eel. Spotted moray, next to goldentail moray: larger dark blotches on a pale ground. Goldentail moray, next to spotted moray: dark with small yellow spots.
Which is better to eat, goldentail moray or spotted moray?
Goldentail Moray: Not a food fish. Spotted Moray: Not a food fish — ciguatera risk.
Do goldentail moray and spotted moray have the same limits?
Yes, in every state that regulates either one. The table on this page lists each rule with its source and check date.