Species: Cynoscion regalis, Weakfish, Gray Weakfish, Weakfish Seatrout

Cynoscion regalis (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Weakfish, Gray Weakfish, Weakfish Seatrout

Elongate and moderately compressed; mouth large, oblique, lower jaw slightly projecting; teeth in multiple rows with 2 large canines at tip of upper jaw, inner row of teeth on lower jaw widely spaced, enlarged, increasing in size to rear; gill rakers long, 14-17; no pores or barbels on chin; 1 marginal pore on snout; preoperculum smooth; top corner of gill opening notched; dorsal rays X + I, 25-29; anal rays II (weak), 11-13; pectoral fins slightly > than pelvic fins; rear margin of tail straight to slightly concave; scales on body large and rough; equal to or larger than lateral line scales; soft dorsal with basal half covered in small scales; lateral line arched anteriorly and straight well before level of anus, extends to the center of the end of the tail fin.

Body grey-green above, silvery below; back with small dark spots forming undulating oblique dotted or reticulating lines; pelvic and anal fins yellowish, other fins pale; inside operculum dark, visible externally.

Size: reaches 98 cm; IGFA record 9.0 kg; 17 y max age.

Inhabits shallow coastal sand and sand-mud bottoms; common along beaches.

Depth: 1-26 m.

Nova Scotia to S Florida, uncommon on the SW coast of Florida.