Tarpons grow to about 4–8 ft long and weigh 60–280 lbs. They have dorsal and anal soft rays and have bluish or greenish backs. Tarpons possess shiny, silvery scales that cover most of their bodies, excluding the head. They have large eyes with adipose eyelids and broad mouths with prominent lower jaws that jut out farther than the rest of the face.

The cobia is normally solitary except for annual spawning aggregations, and sometimes it will congregate at reefs, wrecks, harbours, buoys, and other structural oases. It is pelagic, but it may enter estuaries and mangroves in search of prey.Attaining a maximum length of 2 m (78 in) and maximum weight of 78 kg (172 lb)

Mutton snapper, especially adults, tend to be solitary, but can be seen in smaller schools. Their flesh is considered by most as excellent table fare. Like most of the snapper family, the meat is white, flaky, and light, and is excellent prepared in a variety of ways.

Permit are usually found in shallow, tropical waters such as mudflats, channels, and muddy bottoms.They are usually seen as individuals or in small schools; if approached when alone, they attempt to escape human interaction, but if approached when in a school formation, they become aggressive and can deliver dangerous bites.

Barracudas are ferocious, opportunistic predators, relying on surprise and short bursts of speed, up to 27 mph to overtake their prey. Adults of most species are more or less solitary, while young and half-grown fish frequently congregate. Barracudas prey primarily on fish (which may include some as large as themselves).

The Florida pompano is part of the jack family. It is very similar to the permit. It has a deeply forked tail and is blue-greenish silver with yellow on the throat, belly, and pelvic and anal fins. The first dorsal fins are low, with about six separate spines.

The bonefish weighs up to 19 lb and measures up to 90 cm (35 in) long. It is silvery in color with dusky fins.Fly fishing for bonefish, called bonefishing, is a popular sport in the Florida Keys. Since bonefish live in shallow inshore water, fishing may be done by wading or from a flats boat. Bonefishing is mostly done for the sport, so the fish are released.

Swift, energetic piscivores, blacktip sharks are known to make spinning leaps out of the water while attacking schools of small fish. Their demeanor has been described as "timid" compared to other large requiem sharks. Other shark species might include bull sharks, bonnet head sharks, lemon sharks, and more.

The crevalle jack lives in both inshore and offshore habitats, with larger adults preferring deeper waters than juveniles. In the inshore environment, crevalle jack inhabit shallow flats, sandy bays, beaches, seagrass beds, and shallow reef complexes.