Weakfish

Family: Sciaendae (other members of the family include the red drum, spot, and Atlantic croaker)
Common Names: gray trout, squeteague, sea trout, summer trout, tiderunner
Largest Recorded: 40 inches, 19 pounds, 2 ounces; Delaware Bay 1989
Oldest Recorded: 11 years
Identifying Features: dark olive to bluish above, with small dark spots; paler below, with various metallic reflections on the sides; name refers to the tender, easily torn membrane of the fish's mouth, rather than its fighting ability

Life History

Weakfish occur along the Atlantic coast of North America from Nova Scotia, Canada to the east coast of Florida, but are most common from New York to North Carolina. Warming of coastal waters in spring prompts an inshore and northerly migration of adults from their offshore wintering grounds to nearshore sounds, bays and estuaries. Spawning occurs shortly after the inshore migration, peaking from late April to June, with some geographical variation in timing. In the fall, an offshore and southerly migration of adults coincides with declining water temperatures. The continental shelf from Chesapeake Bay to Cape Lookout, North Carolina appears to be the major wintering ground for weakfish.

Growth of weakfish is particularly rapid the first year. Weakfish begin to mature after the first year, with 100 percent reaching maturity by the second year. Size at maturity differs between weakfish found north of Delaware Bay and weakfish found in North Carolina; in northern fish, females mature at 10 inches and males at nine inches, and in North Carolina both sexes mature at seven inches.

Surveys along the Atlantic coast indicate that estuaries provide feeding areas and spawning grounds for adult weakfish and are equally as important as nursery areas for juveniles.

Adult weakfish are often found near the periphery of eelgrass beds, perhaps because weakfish primarily feed upon shrimp, other crustaceans, and small fish that are found near eelgrass beds.

[ 04-20-2004, 11:13 AM: Message edited by: NIGHTSTRIKES ]