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 - 10/1/2022 6:56:50 PM

Saturday October 1 2022 Thankfully the weather seems to be settling down for the next day or two and fishing has picked right back up to where i (View)

TW’s Daily Fishing Report - 9/18/2022 2:50:26 PM

Sunday September 18 2022 Great fishing continues this weekend! In the Surf anglers have had good luck with Drum Bluefish Sea Mullet Pompano Span (View)

Good Fishing On Duck Surf 9/3/22 - 9/3/2022 10:47:54 AM

9/3/22: It’s been good fishing on the surf in Duck. Plenty of sea mullet small pompano bluefish and mackerel. Picture of Bryan with a pompano. (View)

Great Fishing In Duck 9/4/22 - 9/4/2022 12:01:10 PM

9/4/22: We are having some great fishing in Duck today. Plenty of sea mullet bluefish pompano mackerel and flounder. The post Great Fishing In (View)

Hatteras Island Fishing Report - 9/4/2022 9:36:28 PM

Happy Sunday! Weather has been gorgeous today. High of 88. Winds 10-15mph out of the NE. Water temp was between 82.9 and 84.2 today. Surf: Blue (View)

Hatteras Island Fishing Report - 9/4/2022 12:32:33 AM

Happy Saturday! Water temp was between 82.2 and 84 today. Surf: Spanish Mackerel Cobia Sea Mullet Pompano Red Drum King Mackerel Sound: Flounde (View)

Hatteras Island Fishing Report - 8/26/2022 9:56:37 PM

Happy Friday! Today’s high was 84. Winds were light to moderate. Currently it’s 77 feels like 84 with SW wind around 5mph. Tomorrow’s temps are (View)

8/19/22 - 8/19/2022 9:27:25 PM

Another slow day…we heard about a handful of Spanish Mackerel caught at ramp 43 after those folks didn’t have any luck at the Point. A small Bl (View)

8/20/22 - 8/20/2022 8:59:21 PM

The Spanish have been hitting at ramp 43 44 & 45. Blues at ramp 43 and 44. We continue to hear about Speckled Trout and puppy drum in the sound (View)

08/10/2022 - 8/10/2022 10:13:47 PM

Sharks at the point today. Sea mullet on ramp 55. Weight a 4 plus pound speck this morning. Have a great night………..RDT!!!!! The post 08/10/2022 (View)