How to Identify a Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus)

• Body color: The back is dark gray or green, fading to a silvery or white belly.
• Body markings: Several black spots on the back extend onto the dorsal fin and tail.
• Teeth in the mouth: A pair of large canine teeth at the tip of the upper jaw.
• Chin barbels: No barbels on the lower jaw.

The sand seatrout lacks dark spots on the back and has a yellow mouth lining; the spotted seatrout has clear black spots on the back and extending onto the dorsal and tail fins.

The weakfish has irregular wavy lines on the sides instead of spots, which separates it from the spotted seatrout.

Found in shallow coastal and estuarine salt/brackish waters, commonly over sandy bottoms or seagrass beds, to depths of about 33 feet (10 m). Found in North America from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, south to southern Florida, and throughout the entire Gulf of Mexico.

Lay the fish flat on its side in even light and photograph the whole body first, then the details below. Get a close, sharp frame of the head: mouth, jaw length and any barbels. Shoot the side of the body before the fish dries; spots and stripes fade fast out of water. The app reads the photo and names the likely species; use the marks on this page to confirm it.

Size and daily limits for this species differ by state and by water, and some waters are catch-and-release only. Check the current regulations for where you are fishing before keeping any fish; if you are unsure of the species, release it.