| Striped Bass | | | | Spot occur along the Atlantic coast in estuarine |
| Striped bass have several regional names. Known | | | | and coastal waters from the Gulf of Maine to |
| as striped bass, stripers, linesides, rockfish and | | | | Florida, although they are most abundant from |
| other names, this fish is highly sought after as a | | | | Chesapeake Bay south to South Carolina. Spot |
| recreational fish, as a commercial species and is | | | | are fun to catch and a great fish for anglers of all |
| even grown in aquaculture operations. Striped | | | | ages. |
| bass are very hardy fish, and even take to life in | | | | Spot are caught along inlets, fishing piers and in |
| freshwater where they are often stocked | | | | inshore bays. Anglers use standard 2 hook rigs, |
| throughout the USA. | | | | using small hooks and small pieces of bait. Popular |
| | | | baits include bloodworms, shrimp, clam and a |
| Cooks have a variety of favorites for cooking | | | | synthetic product called "Fish Bites" that works |
| rockfish. Whole fillets of school sized fish or | | | | very well. |
| steaks of larger fish are delicious fried. Other | | | | Speckled Trout |
| choices for cooking striped bass include grilling, | | | | Speckled trout, also known as spotted seatrout |
| broiling, fish cakes and more. For top quality | | | | are common throughout the Southeast, with |
| striped bass or "rockfish" as table fare, it's | | | | nearly seven million fish harvested and released in |
| important to take care of the fish prior to | | | | 2006. In Florida, spotted seatrout is often the |
| cooking. The fish should be chilled on ice and laid | | | | most sought after and exploited gamefish. 75% |
| out flat until cleaned. | | | | of recreationally caught speckled trout are |
| Once the fish is home, it can be rinsed thoroughly | | | | released to grow. |
| and filleted. Several cleaning methods exist and | | | | Shad |
| each angler learns their favorite style. The fish | | | | American shad are among the most exciting fish |
| can be scaled and the skin left on, filleted and | | | | to catch. Anglers fish for them using small jigs, |
| then skinned or the skin can be cut around the | | | | shad darts, sabiki rigs or by fly fishing. The fish |
| perimeter of the fish and pulled off with pliers. | | | | are beautiful species and extremely tough |
| The skin-on version is nice when baking or grilling | | | | fighters, known for their ability to run and make |
| smaller fish. Skinning the fish before filleting has | | | | spectacular jumps. Most recreational fishing for |
| some advantages, the most important being | | | | American shad occurs in the spring, when the fish |
| speed. Filleting the fish and then cutting the skin | | | | enter rivers to spawn. Due to a decline in shad |
| off removes the most dark meat and leaves the | | | | populations, shad fishing is now a catch and |
| highest quality portion, although some fish is lost in | | | | release fishery. |
| the process. | | | | Red Drum |
| Summer Flounder | | | | Red drum is one of the most popularly sought |
| Summer flounder are found around inlets, jetties | | | | recreational fish throughout the South Atlantic. |
| and channel edges. They also frequent ocean | | | | Since the 1980s recreational fishing has accounted |
| wrecks, artificial reefs and areas of rocky or coral | | | | for about 90 percent of all red drum landings. The |
| bottom. Flounder are not born with both eyes on | | | | recreational fishery is an inshore fishery, targeting |
| one side. During growth, the "bottom" eye | | | | small "puppy drum" and large trophy fish. Red |
| migrates to the upward-facing side of its body. | | | | Drum are caught in the surf, in bays and in |
| This allows the flounder to lie on one side, burying | | | | shallow areas using live baits, cut offerings or |
| in the sand where it can ambush its prey. Flounder | | | | artificial lures. |
| feed on a variety of small fish and crustaceans. | | | | Black Sea Bass |
| Flounder fishing is extremely popular along the | | | | Black sea bass are common along the Atlantic |
| Atlantic coast. Some anglers specialize in catching | | | | coast from New York to North Carolina. Black |
| this fish almost exclusively while other choose to | | | | Sea Bass are excellent table fare. The meat is |
| target them only at certain times. While no single | | | | firm, white and delicious. Sea Bass are superb |
| location, technique or angler is a guarantee of | | | | fried, grilled, baked or broiled. Sea Bass are easily |
| success, there are a several tricks to the fishery. | | | | skinned and filleted. They are best fresh and do |
| Most anglers drift cut or live baits, with the types | | | | not freeze well. |
| of baits varying with location, time of year and | | | | Tautog |
| local fish behavior. | | | | Tautog are excellent table fare. Due to their |
| Atlantic Croaker | | | | tough and slippery skin, a sharp fillet knife is |
| Atlantic Croaker or "hardhead" are popular | | | | needed to fillet these delicious fish. Cut around the |
| saltwater fish common along the Atlantic coast. | | | | outline of the fish, making the front cut behind the |
| They are known to have wild population | | | | head and pectoral fin. Then the skin can easily be |
| fluctuations. The fish get their names because of | | | | peeled off by using pliers and peeling from the |
| the "croaking" noise the make when removed | | | | head to tail. Once the skin is off the fish can be |
| from the water. Croakers are hard fighters and | | | | filleted normally. There are a few rib bones which |
| prolific feeders. They are caught on a variety of | | | | can be cut out after filleting. The meat is firm, |
| baits and lures. | | | | white and mild flavored. Tautog is delicious fried, |
| Spot | | | | baked or grilled. |