Kingcroaker
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| Kingcroakers Fossil range: Late Miocene to Present[1] |
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.jpg/250px-Menticirrhus_saxatilis_(line_arg).jpg) Northern Kingfish, Menticirrhus saxatilis
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The kingcroakers (formerly "kingfish") are a genus Menticirrhus of the family Sciaenidae.
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[edit] Species
Menticirrhus americanus - Southern Kingfish: This species grows to 20 inches (51 cm) in length. Seven to eight dark bands mark the sides which shade from dusky above to almost white on the belly. They are found from the Western Caribbean Sea to Cape Cod over sand or mud in depths of at least 5 feet (1.5 m). This species is prized for its flesh, and is fished both commercially and recreationally.
Menticirrhus littoralis - Gulf Kingfish: The body is silvery in color and occurs in the surf zone from the Gulf of Mexico to Florida. In all other respects it is similar to M. americanus.
Menticirrhus saxatilis - Northern Kingfish: The size, habits, range and fishery is similar to M. americanus. The coloration is the same too, except for a dark V-shaped mark on the shoulder.
Menticirrhus undulatus - California Corbina
[edit] Fishing for Kingcroakers
Though not as highly prized for sport as other fish may be, kingcroakers (also know as whiting in Florida) have the ability to pull out some little, zippy runs. Most specimens that are caught are a half of a pound or less, but some can reach one or even two. Kingcroakers are most often caught in the surf, but are sometimes found off of piers near inlets or in bays. Good lures include small jigs, small spoons, and small plastics. The bait fishermen is best suited with sand fleas, or molecrabs which can be bought frozen at almost any tackle shop or caught live on the beach (look for V's in the sand pointing towards shore when a wave starts to recede, and start digging a couple inches until you feel a sand flea). Cut shrimp is a close second.
[edit] Cooking Kingcroakers
Most Kingcroakers are too small to fillet, so pan-dressing them is usually the way to go. When big enough they produce mild, but good fillets. A fish fry is best suited for these fish.
[edit] References
- ^ Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology 364: p.560.
