Southern Puffer

Sphoeroides nephelus

Southern Puffer (Sphoeroides nephelus) is a small Atlantic and Gulf pufferfish found mainly in shallow coastal waters. It inflates when threatened and has the strong beak-like teeth typical of puffers.

Freshwater

Southern Puffer reference image — James St. John, cc-by, via Wikimedia Commons. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Identification points

Small, rounded body with smooth skin and no obvious scales
Beak-like fused teeth visible in the small mouth
Mottled brown-gray back and pale belly, often with faint dark spotting

Habitat

Shallow coastal bays, estuaries, seagrass beds, mangrove edges, and tidal creeks over sand, mud, or shell bottoms; often near shore in warm, turbid water.

Bait notes

Small pieces of shrimp, squid, clams, or cut bait work well; small jigs tipped with bait can also take them. They are not a major game fish and are often caught incidentally while targeting other inshore species.

Behavior

Feeds on small hard-shelled invertebrates such as crustaceans, snails, and worms, crushing them with fused teeth. It is a slow, bottom-oriented species that may nip bait and is easily spooked.

Caution

Do not eat unless absolutely certain of local identification and regulations: pufferfish can contain tetrodotoxin and should be treated as potentially poisonous. Its beak-like teeth can inflict a painful bite.

Fishing notes

Fish light tackle near bottom around grass edges, docks, and creek mouths with small hooks and minimal weight. Handle carefully because puffers can inflate and have sharp beaks; many anglers release them.