Strongylura notata
Rare but reliable in Florida waters at 24-28C, this surface-hugging needlefish is a sharp-eyed spot for divers who look up as much as down.
Look for a long, slender, pencil-like body up to about 43 cm, with a needle-thin beak lined with fine teeth. The back is greenish to olive and the flanks flash silver, with a faint blue stripe running along the side and reddish tinting in the fins that gives this species its name. It usually hangs just under the surface, almost motionless, so divers often spot it by the shadow or glint it throws before making out the shape.
Most sightings are near the surface, where it hovers almost still in open water or drifts along the reef edge, relying on its slim profile to stay unnoticed. It tends to ignore divers unless approached quickly, darting off in a fast, straight burst rather than diving for cover in the reef. Look for it hanging near the boat, over sandy patches, or cruising the shallows early or late in the day when light glances off the surface.
Needlefish like this one hunt by ambush, holding still near the surface before lunging at small baitfish with a quick sideways snap of that toothy beak.
Sightings show no clear seasonal pattern, and the observed temperature range of 23.9 to 28.0C matches Florida's water for most of the year, so it can turn up on any dive regardless of month.
Reef neighbours a diver could mistake it for. Use the identification notes above to tell them apart.
Logged almost exclusively in Florida, where it turns up along shallow reef and nearshore dive sites throughout the state. It has not been reported with any frequency outside the United States in the current data, making Florida the place to look for it.
Mapping where Redfin Needlefish is logged…
Florida is the standout location, with sightings logged across dive sites throughout the state. Outside Florida, the species isn't well represented in current diver observations.
There's no strong season in the data, and Florida's water sits comfortably within its 24 to 28C niche most of the year, so sightings happen year-round rather than in a narrow window.
Look for a thin, elongated silver body with a long toothy beak, an olive-green back, and a faint blue side stripe with reddish fin tints. It's usually seen holding still just below the surface rather than swimming actively through the reef.
They typically reach around 43cm in length, giving them a slim, pencil-like profile in the water rather than a bulky one.
No, they pose no real danger to divers. They tend to dart away quickly if approached rather than acting defensively.
Site and sighting data is aggregated from diver logs, iNaturalist and GBIF. For taxonomy and conservation status:
Ocean Sunfish
1,396 sites
