Spotted Seatrout

Q: Can you eat Spotted Seatrout?

Soft, delicate white flesh with a mild, sweet flavor; low fat and best eaten fresh. A Gulf Coast favorite — excellent pan-fried, baked with Cajun spices, or used in fish tacos.

Q: How big does Spotted Seatrout get?

Spotted Seatrout can grow up to 100.0 cm long and weigh 7.9 kg.

Q: Where is Spotted Seatrout found?

Western North Atlantic from New York south along the US Atlantic coast through the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatán. Resident in estuaries, seagrass beds, and shallow bays; rarely ventures far from inshore coastal habitat. Neritic, coral reefs, estuaries

Q: Is Spotted Seatrout endangered?

The conservation status of Spotted Seatrout is Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List.

Q: What family does Spotted Seatrout belong to?

Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) belongs to the family Sciaenidae (Drums and croakers) in the order Perciformes (Perch-like fishes).

Abstract

A member of the drum family rather than a true trout, the spotted seatrout is a silvery, black-flecked inshore fish of Atlantic and Gulf grass flats and estuaries. Two prominent canine teeth and scattered round black spots across the back and fins distinguish it, and it grows to about a metre. It rarely strays far from shallow coastal habitat, and males produce a resonant drumming sound to attract mates. Reaching seven to eight kilograms, it yields soft, delicate, mildly sweet white flesh best eaten fresh, a Gulf Coast favourite pan-fried or in tacos. A staple of inshore sport fishing on live shrimp and soft plastics, the species is assessed as Least Concern.