I caught this In the Indian River (a saltwater river system in florida) today. I asked around and no one knew what it was. It seems like a type of goby but other than that i have no idea. It was 11 inches long and i caught it on live shrimp. It had small teeth and basically seemed like an eel as it slithered out of my hands a couple times. Please ID.

Lizard fish, or bighead sea robin.  More likely a lizard fish. 

Lizard fish, or bighead sea robin.  More likely a lizard fish.

Lizard Fish. Thanks!

Those are cool little fish.  If they grew to bigger proportions they would be up there with redfish and speckled trout. 

Those are cool little fish.  If they grew to bigger proportions they would be up there with redfish and speckled trout.

For sure. Hit it hard and fought more than than i was expecting.

Yeah, I once caught a 20 inch lizardfish on my ultralight rod. They're super fun and easy to catch. 

Why didn't you lip it? =P

Why didn't you lip it? =P

 

The ouch! factor.

Lizardfish have a reputation for attacking lures much larger than themselves and their little size doesn't match their bad attitude.

Did you hook that beast in the head???? Lol. Did it die???

BTW, lizard fish is correct. :-)

Wow! If you guys lived out here and had to deal with the Lizard fish we have in our salt water bays you would be singing a different tune. They are a straight up nuisance out this way and despised by most fisherman. I am indifferent to them, but some guys stop just short of waging all out warfare on them! They're popularity is something along the lines of the Asian/ Silver carp. Haha.

Did you hook that beast in the head???? Lol. Did it die???

BTW, lizard fish is correct. :-)

Nope hooked right in the mouth, just barely missed his eye. He was fine and even flopped the hook out of his mouth.

Lizardfish have a reputation for attacking lures much larger than themselves and their little size doesn't match their bad attitude.

Yeah he swallowed my biggest shrimp whole.

Nope hooked right in the mouth, just barely missed his eye. He was fine and even flopped the hook out of his mouth.

Cool beans.