Pigfish Caught on the Isle of Wight

Type: Tidal
Region: Eastern
Location: Isle of Wight Bay

I was fishing the Isle of Wight Bay last week and caught this fish � I don�t know what it was and was hoping you could help identify it.

DNR Response: It is a pigfish. (Orthopristis chrysoptera) They are common this time of year in the coastal bays.

Pigfish, often mistaken for their close cousin, pinfish, are actually members of the grunt family. These hardy, palm size critters make for an excellent choice of bait for many of our favorite inshore, near-shore, and offshore species. Extremely common along the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast United States, pigfish�s range actually extends all the way north to Long Island and south to the mouth of the Rio Grande River. They are particularly abundant along the Carolina coast, where they are regularly taken in trawl-seines. Though the species has not yet been carefully studied, it is believed that the pigfish population does occur in sufficient numbers to sustain at least some level of commercial importance. Evidently, pigfish are quite pleasing to the palate, though we prefer to utilize them as bait rather than broiled and served on a plate. Typically easy to capture, pigfish grow to approximately twelve-inches in length but are most often captured in smaller, three to six-inch versions. They are best fished from an anchored or very slowly drifting boat as they do not troll very well. Those of you who don�t own boats, please keep in mind that when we refer to an anchored or slowly drifting boat, the same tactics can be applied to pier, bridge, or shoreline fishing. (Florida Sport Fishing Magazine)