Spotted Moray
Gymnothorax moringa
How to tell it
Pale moray densely covered with dark spots and blotches; the common Florida reef eel.
Often mistaken for
Two fish that get called spotted moray, and what gives each one away.
- Goldentail moray: Dark with small yellow spots. Tell them apart
- Purplemouth moray: Plain mottled, purple mouth lining. 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 — ciguatera risk.
In the app
Point the camera at a spotted moray 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 spotted moray
How many spotted moray 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 spotted moray from goldentail moray?
Spotted Moray: Pale moray densely covered with dark spots and blotches; the common Florida reef eel. Goldentail moray: dark with small yellow spots.