Weakfish

Species Information

Scientific Name:	Cynoscion regalis
Common Names:	squeteague, weakfish, gray trout, grey trout
Environment:	Inshore, Surf
Ideal Temp:	64-82°F (18-28°C)

About Weakfish

The weakfish, Cynoscion regalis, is a marine fish of the drum family Sciaenidae.

A large, slender, marine fish, it is found along the east coast of North America. The head and back of this fish are dark brown in color with a greenish tinge. The sides have a faint silvery hue with dusky specks, and the belly is white. The origin of its name is based on the weakness of the mouth muscles, which often cause a hook to tear free, allowing the fish to escape. The weakfish grows to 1 m (3 feet) in length and 9 kg (20 pounds) in weight. It is found along the eastern coast of North America from Nova Scotia, Canada to northern Florida, where it is fished both commercially and recreationally. Weakfish are also known by the American Indian name "Squeteague".

In the mid-Atlantic states, the fish is sometimes referred to by the name sea trout, though it is not related to the fishes properly called trout, which are in the family Salmonidae.

The weakfish is the state fish of Delaware.

Weakfish Fishing

World Record:	8.96 kg (19 lb 12 oz) Staten Island, New York, USA
# Fish Caught:	2521897 documented in database.
Earliest Record:	1/1/1847 12:00:00 AM and located at 32.72344, -79.85539.
Latest Record:	4/2/2025 5:16:00 PM and located at 30.66968, -81.46259.
Common Techniques:	Bottom Fishing, Casting, Fly, Jigging
Popular Lure Types:	Bottom Rig, Flies, Jigs, Plugs, Soft Plastics, Spoons, Topwater
Fishing Spots:	1439 Weakfish fishing spots.

Latest Weakfish Fishing Reports and Spots

Dreary Day But Good Fishing - 10/28/2025 6:19:00 PM

  There was no real rain forecasted for today but it misted the entire morning. The horizon stayed foggy and it was a bit cool which made for a (View)

Slick As Ice - 10/21/2025 4:52:00 PM

 That's how the water was today not a ripple. And a whole lot of sunshine after the sun got up. I had met Steve Locke and his fishing buddy Ton (View)

Oversized Undersized and Out of Season - 10/22/2025 8:43:00 PM

  It's almost downhill when your first fish of the day is an oversized Redfish! I had met Scott er and his father-in-law Gary down at Sawpit Cr (View)

Wrapped Up The Week With Some Good Fishing - 10/23/2025 8:52:00 PM

 I've got a short week with prepping for the AIGA Inshore Classic - Captain's Meeting tomorrow 6pm at Old Town Bait and Tackle. We had a bit of (View)

Big Trout Makes The Day - 10/9/2025 10:07:00 AM

 This crazy weather is making it difficult to get our trips in! Just like last week there was a window of opportunity yesterday where the winds (View)

Friday May 16th 2025 - 5/16/2025 10:52:00 AM

Jamesport Another great day on beautiful Peconic Bay! Scup limits were the norm with just a few weakfish today! A blue and fluke were also adde (View)

Sunday ~ May 18th 2025 - 5/18/2025 6:00:47 PM

Jamesport Was about to do a live video but had to put the phone away and net a beautiful weakfish! Good problem to have! Posted by Celtic Quest (View)

It's been a long times since I've caught one of these..... - 11/3/2024 8:24:00 PM

I landed this weakfish or squeteague a couple of nights ago.  It's been decades since I've caught one. I also saw others caught. Yes they are a (View)

Ralph Pickering 1929-2023 - 6/11/2023 8:42:00 PM

Sea run brown trout on the fly rod!  It is with sadness that I report the passing of my father Ralph Pickering at the age of 93.  I know many o (View)

Stripers Spreading Out; Other Fish Arrive - 4/24/2021 9:20:00 PM

  I caught this schoolie along with many more today in a backwater location. The bucktail jig was a hot lure today. The stripers are really spr (View)