Cynoscion nebulosus
(Cuvier 1830)
Family Sciaenidae

Lateral view of spotted seatrout
The photo above shows an adult, top, and a juvenile, bottom, spotted seatrout. These fish are now part of the Florida Museum ichthyology collection. Top: UF 238446 Bottom: UF 238137. Florida Museum photo by Kenneth Krysko (top) and Zachary Randall (bottom)

The spotted seatrout is a member of the drum and croaker family. It has an elongate, compressed body and a large head. The mouth is terminal and large. There is a pair of enlarged, asymmetrically sized canines placed anteromedially on the upper jaw. There are no barbels or pores on the chin, and there are two marginal pores on the snout. The body is silvery with a bluish to purple or gray cast on the back, and there are many conspicuous black spots of varying sizes. The caudal fin is truncated to slightly rounded. The spotted seatrout is a marine species that enters nearshore environments including rivers, creeks, canals and ditches.

Status & distribution

  • Status — Marine invader
  • Florida Distribution — Western and North Central drainages, the Gulf Coast, South Florida and the Atlantic Coast
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