Purplemouth 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
Purplemouth Moray
Mottled brown-gray moray with a purple lining inside the mouth; a dark spot at the gill opening.
Purplemouth moray, next to spotted moray: plain mottled, purple mouth lining.
Spotted Moray
Pale moray densely covered with dark spots and blotches; the common Florida reef eel.
Spotted moray, next to purplemouth moray: bold spotting.
Side by side
| Purplemouth Moray | Spotted Moray | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Gymnothorax vicinus | Gymnothorax moringa |
| Also called | — | — |
| Waters | Nearshore | Nearshore |
| Heaviest state record | — | — |
| On the table | Not a food fish — ciguatera risk. | 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 | Purplemouth 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, purplemouth 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 purplemouth moray from spotted moray?
Purplemouth Moray: Mottled brown-gray moray with a purple lining inside the mouth; a dark spot at the gill opening. Spotted Moray: Pale moray densely covered with dark spots and blotches; the common Florida reef eel. Spotted moray, next to purplemouth moray: bold spotting. Purplemouth moray, next to spotted moray: plain mottled, purple mouth lining.
Which is better to eat, purplemouth moray or spotted moray?
Purplemouth Moray: Not a food fish — ciguatera risk. Spotted Moray: Not a food fish — ciguatera risk.
Do purplemouth 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.