GOLIATH GROUPER: Formerly known as the Jewfish, this gamefish ranges in the Atlantic Ocean from New Jersey to Brazil and in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. it feeds primarily on crustaceans, as well as turtles and fishes, including stingrays.

LOGGERHEAD TURTLE: The majority of loggerheads in the United States are found in Florida. Loggerheads are a threatened species, primarily because of shrimp trawling, coastal development, increased human use of nesting beaches and pollution. Adults weigh 200 to 350 pounds and measure about 3 feet in length, while hatchlings are only about 2 inches long. Loggerheads' powerful jaws crush mollusks, crabs and encrusting animals attached to reefs and rocks.

GIANT PACIFIC OCTOPUS: Ranging along the Pacific coast from southern California to Alaska, this octopod grows to about 16 feet from the tip of one arm to the tip of another. Record-setters reach as much as 600 pounds, but the average is below 100 pounds. According to the National Parks Conservation Association, it is highly intelligent, and has demonstrated skill at navigating mazes and can unscrew jar lids to reach food inside.

BRAIN CORAL: These reef-building animals of the genus Meandrina form rounded colonies that resemble the convolutions of the human brain. Slow-growing, they are strong enough to withstand the storms that pound more delicate corals to rubble.

SOUTHERN STINGRAY: Up to 5 feet wide, this creature ranges in the Atlantic Ocean from New Jersey to Brazil and in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Lying partially buried in the sand, the ray uses its fins to dislodge mussels, worms and crustaceans. Its spiny tail can be dangerous to unsuspecting humans swimming in the stingray's habitat.

VIPER MORAY: Reef-associated eel has arched jaws that touch only at their tips when mouth is closed. The moray, generally harmless to humans, lives in the Western Atlantic from Florida to South America.

FRENCH ANGELFISH: Commonly found in shallow reefs, these fish feed on sponges and algae. They typically travel in pairs, and grow to about 16 inches long. Found in the Atlantic, from Florida to Brazil, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.

BLUE TANG: This surgeonfish has nothing to do with a certain powdered drink. It does have a distinctive blue color with a conspicuous yellow caudal spine. The fish goes about in small groups and inhabits coral reefs and inshore grassy areas, feeding entirely on algae. Found from New York to Brazil.

GREAT HAMMERHEAD SHARK: You don't want to mess with these monsters, the biggest of which have reached 20 feet long and nearly 1,000 pounds. They're found all over the world, in warm and tropical waters, both inshore and well offshore. They prefer to feed on stingrays, groupers and sea catfishes, but also prey on other small bony fishes, crabs, squid, other sharks, rays, and lobsters. Potentially dangerous to people.

WHITE SHRIMP: Georgia harvests Atlantic white and brown shrimp. They grow very rapidly, doubling or tripling their weight every month and assuming the adult form. As the water turns colder in October and November, they move to deeper waters offshore.

LANE SNAPPER: A popular fish to eat, lane snapper can reach up to about 7 pounds. They're found mainly around coral reefs and on vegetated sandy areas and typically feed at night, on small fish, bottom-living crabs, shrimps, worms, gastropods and cephalopods. They are most abundant around the Antilles, on the Campeche Bank, off Panama and the northern coast of South America.

MULLET: Striped mullet, which travel in schools, are known to go several hundred miles up rivers, but spawning always takes place in the sea. They are found in the Atlantic Ocean from Cape Cod to Brazil, including Gulf of Mexico.

FISH WISH LIST:
The Georgia Aquarium has sought permits from state and federal agencies to capture or raise hundreds of species of aquatic life, from the exotic to the common.

EXOTIC SPECIES
• Sharks, including a great hammerhead shark, bonnethead shark, hornshark and blacktip reef shark
• Rays, including a manta ray, southern stingray and a cownose ray
• Giant guitarfish
• Largemouth sawfish
• Giant Pacific octopus
• Giant cuttlefish
• Foureye butterflyfish
• Orangespine unicornfish
• Redlip blenny
• Harlequin tuskfish
• French angelfish
• Leafy sea dragon
• Viper moray

COMMON SPECIES
• 1,000 ocean sturgeonfish
• 1,600 blue tang
• 1,100 doctorfish
• 4,000 Atlantic bumper
• 5,000 bigeye scad
• 5,000 French grunt
• 5,000 tomtate
• 4,000 pigfish / yellowtail
• 2,000 lane snapper
• 3,000 mullets
• 2,000 neon tetra
• 3,000 glassy sweeper
• 2,000 bluebanded goby

Sources: Georgia Department of Natural Resources; FishBase.org; National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Fishes, Whales & Dolphins; Fisherman's Guide: Fishes of the Southeastern United States, enature.com; NOAA photos; staff; file photos