Tripletail are coastal pelagic fish, appropriately named for their large, rounded dorsal and anal fins that extend far back on the body, making them appear as if they have three tails. Juvenile tripletail have mottled yellow, brown and black coloration, while adults appear darker in color. As masters of camouflage, these fish can rapidly change color to better disguise themselves! Tripletail are commonly found near structures and floating objects such as driftwood and buoys, and juvenile tripletail are often mistaken for leaves while they float in patches of Sargassum.
Cobia, the only extant member of the Rachycentridae family, have a long, slim body with a broad, flat head. With a distinct lateral line that originates at the eye and runs down to the fork of the tail, cobia have a dark dorsal side and a lighter ventral side. This type of camouflage is what we refer to as countershading! Similar to tripletail, cobia can typically be found near structures or large animals like sharks and sea turtles.
Both tripletail and cobia are increasing in popularity among anglers due to an exhilarating fight when hooked and tastiness; however, they are considered “data poor species,” meaning scientists do not know a lot about them which makes them difficult to effectively manage. Therefore, Sean Powers of the University of South Alabama is spearheading a Gulf-wide research project to better understand these fishes!
This initiative, sponsored by the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, aims to track the movements and migration patterns of tripletail and cobia across the Gulf by using conventional, acoustic and satellite tags. Specifically, Mississippi and Alabama will deploy 100 tags per state (50 on each species) in the northern Gulf. Alongside these tracking efforts, scientists, including Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Marine Fisheries Extension Lead Marcus Drymon, will also be studying the age, growth and reproduction of these fishes through dockside sampling.
Ultimately, this project will help Gulf scientists fill critical knowledge gaps to improve management of tripletail and cobia in the Gulf. Be sure to follow the Mississippi State University Fisheries Ecology Program on Facebook or Instagram to see our updates as the project gets underway!
Meet the author
Abby McGregor
Marine Fisheries Specialist
Abby McGregor is a marine fisheries specialist with the MASGC-supported Marine Fisheries Ecology Program at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center. She engages with... Read more
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