Other Common Names:

Tide Runner, Sea Trout, Yellow Fin Trout, Yellow Mouth, Squeteague, Gray Trout, Gray Weakfish

State Record:

19 pounds 2 ounces

Identifying Features:

Weakfish have a projecting lower jaw with a soft mouth. They have an olive-green back with dark spots above copper sides. Their fins have a yellow tinge.

Typical Adult:

Length: Up to 36 inches
Weight: Up to 18 pounds
Life span: Up to 12 years

Habitat:

While not spawning, weakfish live in sandy, shallow water of the temperate seas off the North Atlantic coast, especially around the mid-Atlantic states.

Feeding Behavior:

Weakfish eat other fish and crustaceans, especially crab and shrimp.

Reproductive Behavior (Spawning):

When: Spring or summer
How: During spawning season, weakfish migrate north and inshore, entering sounds, bays, and estuaries (water where a river meets the sea). The male makes a croaking or drumming sound to attract females. The female broadcasts eggs randomly. The eggs hatch within 48 hours.

Did You Know:

Weakfish have a delicate mouth structure. Often, hooks from fishing poles will pull out their jaws. This is how weakfish got their name.