Whiting

Species Information

Scientific Name:	Menticirrhus americanus
Environment:	Inshore, Surf
Ideal Temp:	72-86°F (22-30°C)
Technique:	Bottom Fishing, Jigging
Lure Type:	Bottom Rig, Jigs
World Record:	1.27 kg (2 lb 13 oz) Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
Other Names:	sea mullet, whiting, Virginia mullet, southern kingfish, southern kingcroaker

Menticirrhus americanus, the southern kingfish, southern kingcroaker, the king whiting, the Carolina whiting, or the Sea Mullet, is a species of marine fish in the family Sciaenidae. It lives in shallow coastal waters on the western fringes of the Atlantic Ocean.

The southern kingcroaker can grow to about 50 centimetres (20 in) but a more usual adult length is 30 centimetres (12 in).

The southern kingcroaker is a slender fish, deepest about two fifths of the way along. The upper jaw projects further than the lower and the snout overhangs the mouth. There is a small barbel on the fleshy lower lip. The dorsal fin is divided into two parts. The number of spines and soft rays in the fins is indicative of the species and in M. americanus, the front part of the dorsal fin is broadly triangular and has 10 spines and the other part is long and has 1 spine and 22 to 25 soft rays. The pointed pectoral fins are large and the anal fin has 1 spine and 7 or 8 soft rays. The tail fin has a characteristic slightly concave upper lobe and a rounded lower lobe. The colour of the fish is silvery grey, sometimes with a coppery sheen, and paler grey below. There are sometimes several broad slanting bands of darker colour on the back of the fish.

The southern kingcroaker is a subtropical, demersal fish found in shallow waters in the western Atlantic Ocean. It has a discontinuous range extending from New York southwards to Texas, and from Yucatán southwards to Buenos Aires, Argentina. The northern portion of its range is interrupted its not being found in southern Florida and the southern portion of its range is interrupted by absence from the West Indies. It is found in places where the seabed is sand or mud, often on sandy beaches. The juveniles can tolerate low salinity levels and are often found in estuaries.

The southern kingcroaker feeds on benthic invertebrates. The diet consists mainly of small crustaceans such as shrimps and crabs but amphipods, polychaete worms, molluscs and small fish are also eaten and it also scavenges for detritus and carrion.

Anglers catch kingfish from piers, jetties and boats in the nearshore ocean, usually with two-hook bottom rigs baited with shrimp, mole crabs, bloodworms or squid. Anglers also use jigs or spec rigs to catch kingfish. Kingfish are often caught while fishing for weakfish.

Latest Whiting Fishing Reports and Spots

TW’s Daily Fishing Report - 12/6/2022 8:32:26 PM

Tuesday December 6 2022 There are still plenty of fish to be caught out there! Brian and his daughter Caroline got out and did some surf fishing (View)

11/30/2022 - 11/30/2022 7:09:35 PM

Reports of sea mullet and blow toads off ramp 44. Not much else to report today. Have a great night…………………….RDT!!!! The post 11/30/2022 appeare (View)

Hatteras Island Fishing Report - 12/2/2022 9:12:49 PM

Today’s high was 57 while the low was 46. Winds have been light to gentle. Currently it’s 54 feels like 52 with ENE winds at 7mph. Tomorrow win (View)

Hatteras Island Fishing Report - 12/1/2022 8:47:32 PM

Today’s high was 52 while the low was 46. Winds have been light to gentle. Currently it’s 46 feels like 40 with N winds at 5mph. Tomorrow’s win (View)

TW’s Daily Fishing Report - 11/21/2022 8:54:27 AM

Sunday November 21 2022 Some Big Drum finally showed up at the point yesterday evening between all of the sharks. We heard there were 10 or more (View)

11/19/2022 - 11/19/2022 4:50:54 PM

Today we had reports of a could small drum caught on ramp 44. Some blue fish sea mullet and toads on ramps 43 and 44. A nice 32″ speck from the (View)

11/17/20022 - 11/17/2022 8:28:58 PM

We weight two citation sea mullet today. One was 2.3 pounds and one was 2.10 pounds. Sea mullet were caught on ramp 43 and 44. Only a few drum (View)

11/03/2022 - 11/3/2022 10:03:39 PM

There have been reports of drum at the point. We did one drum citation tonight. Weighed several nice sea mullets today 1 to 2 ponders. Blue fi (View)

11/04/2022 - 11/4/2022 9:55:06 PM

The point had all the blue fish you wanted today. Reports of a 38 and 39 inch drum from the point and some slot drum. Sea mullet on ramp 43. Bl (View)

Hatteras Island Fishing Report - 11/3/2022 9:44:53 PM

Today’s high was 73 while the low was 61. Winds have been light to moderate. Currently it’s 66 with NNE winds at 7mph. Tomorrow looks about the (View)