seahorses Tampa bay

[ngarcia11892]

I was talking to my friend whos a crabber here in Tampa bay and he says he catches seahorses in the traps and I was surprised because I didnt think there were any here and was wondering what species they could be because he said they wrap around his finget.so they have to be rather large

[elegance coral]

The dwarf seahorse (Hippocampus zosterae) is a very common species in tampa bay. They are tiny though. I've never caught a larger species, but that doesn't mean they aren't there, somewhere.

[bluewater921]

+1 on dwarfs .. my friend diver/collector lives in sarasota when hes not in the keys and catches them all the time in the inter coastal water ways ..

[ngarcia11892]

Oh wow ok, I always thought that the dwarfs were a Pacific species

[mal7887]

I've seen them at some of the non commercial beaches and in the intercostals plenty of times.

[elegance coral]

Oh wow ok, I always thought that the dwarfs were a Pacific species

You may be thinking of the "pygmy" seahorse. https://www.google.com/search?q=pygmy+seahorse&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=929&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=tzQEUNzQJIX28gTajun0Bw&ved=0CDoQ_AUoAQ

[rovster]

I do a bit of fishing in the Ft Meyers/Charlotte harbor area, and I will occasionally catch a seahorse in my castnet when looking for bait. They are usually pretty small. Its not Tampa, but its on the same coast, LOL!