Game Fishing > Porgy family, Sparidae > Saucer-eye porgy

Saucer-eye porgy

This porgy is called "saucer-eye," owing to its having a larger eye than the other porgies. It was first described by Cuvier and Valenciennes, in 1830, from the West Indies. They named it calamus, meaning "quill" or "reed," from the quilllike bones (interhaemal) that articulate with the spines of the anal fin. It is abundant in the West Indies, and is common about the Florida Keys, but not so plentiful as the jolt-head or little-head porgies.

It is very similar in conformation to the jolthead, but is more humpbacked, being quite, elevated above the shoulder. The body is short, its depth about half its length. Its head is short and deep, with a thin and gibbous profile, and small mouth.

Its color is silvery with bluish reflections; the scales golden, forming longitudinal stripes, with pearly-bluish interspaces; the cheeks and snout are purplish, with round brassy spots; the fins are pale, blotched with orange; the iris of the eye is golden.

The saucer-eye grows to twelve or fifteen inches in length, and is considered a good panfish at Key West, commanding a ready sale. It is found in the same situations as the other porgies, grunts, and snappers, and is equally voracious, taking the proffered bait eagerly.

The tackle for this porgy is the same as for the others, consisting of a light rod, multiplying reel, line size F or G, three-foot leader, Sproat-bend hooks on gut snells, with sinker in accordance with the depth of the water and the strength of the tide. Almost any bait will answer, as seacrawfish, cut conch, or fish.