Jackknife-FishorSpotted Drum
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
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.
Jackknife-fish, next to spotted drum: no spots on the fins.
Spotted Drum
Black-and-white barred drum whose rear dorsal and tail fins are black with white spots on adults.
Spotted drum, next to jackknife-fish: spotted fins.
Side by side
| Jackknife-Fish | Spotted Drum | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Equetus lanceolatus | Equetus punctatus |
| Also called | Jackknife-fish | — |
| Waters | Nearshore | Nearshore |
| Heaviest state record | — | — |
| On the table | Not a food fish. | Not a food fish. |
| 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 | Jackknife-Fish: size · bag · season | Spotted Drum: 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, jackknife-fish or spotted drum, with the right rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask
How do you tell jackknife-fish from spotted drum?
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. Spotted Drum: Black-and-white barred drum whose rear dorsal and tail fins are black with white spots on adults. Spotted drum, next to jackknife-fish: spotted fins. Jackknife-fish, next to spotted drum: no spots on the fins.
Which is better to eat, jackknife-fish or spotted drum?
Jackknife-Fish: Not a food fish. Spotted Drum: Not a food fish.
Do jackknife-fish and spotted drum 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.