Jackknife-Fish
Equetus lanceolatus
Also called Jackknife-fish.
How to tell it
Black-and-white drum with a sail-like first dorsal fin and a curved black bar running from the dorsal into the tail.
Often mistaken for
Two fish that get called jackknife-fish, and what gives each one away.
- High-hat: Horizontal stripes. Tell them apart
- Spotted drum: Spotted fins. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
On the table
Not a food fish.
In the app
Point the camera at a jackknife-fish and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about jackknife-fish
How many jackknife-fish can you keep?
Florida (Atlantic): 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate; Florida (Gulf): 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate.
How do you tell jackknife-fish from high-hat?
Jackknife-Fish: Black-and-white drum with a sail-like first dorsal fin and a curved black bar running from the dorsal into the tail. High-hat: horizontal stripes.