ID puffer (pic)

[DamnPepShrimp]

My girlfriend is going on a deep sea fishing trip right now off the coast of Delaware. While out there (I don't know exactly how far) they spotted this puffer fish on the surface. So they got him and she sent a picture of him to me.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd115/DamnPepShrimp/photo-1163.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd115/DamnPepShrimp/photo-2160-1.jpg

I can't seem to ID it. The boat crew said they have never seen that puffer before. It almost looks like a burfish, but its darker and not flat looking, the lines are there though. Any ideas?

EDIT: She said it was caught in the ocean at 24ft deep, turns out they decided to fish locally rather than deep sea.

[ccampbell57]

Spiney Box puffer (Chilomycterus schoepfi)

[Western_reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15516565#post15516565 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ccampbell57
Spiney Box puffer (Chilomycterus schoepfi)
+1

[DamnPepShrimp]

Cool, thanks. I thought it looked like a burrfish.

[jmccown]

so is she bringing it home to you?

[DamnPepShrimp]

Nah, they just brought it on board and took a pic and let him go. He'd probably get beat up in my tank, plus I think its illegal? Not that anyone would know.

[anbosu]

Depends on the state I think.

[DamnPepShrimp]

She wanted to bring it home but she probably couldn't have kept it alive until she saw me next. Oh well. He's a little far from home though isn't he?

[dflad]

gulf stream...it happens, they float up the coast.

[DamnPepShrimp]

Thats what I figured, kind of like blue angels.

[dflad]

exactly. when I lived in Maryland on the Bay we would find stuff like that while out doing stuff on our boat. All kinds of fish, butterflies, angels, puffers etc...

[DamnPepShrimp]

That's so cool! I'd love to setup a tank dedicated just for them!