What Is this fish?

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Lower Bay
Location: Point Lookout

This fish was caught about 4 miles north of Point Lookout on the Bay. The mouth is more towards the bottom, suggesting a bottom feeder. It's not visible in the picture but it has a small protrusion on it's chin about a 1/2 inch long, thin like a leg. It must be an indicator for the fish that it is near the bottom to gauge distance. The fish was about 12 inches long.

DNR Response: You caught a kingfish. It�s not possible to tell from this photo with 100% confidence if it�s a southern or northern kingfish. A photo of the dorsal fin and the side of the fish is needed. A northern kingfish would have an extended filament on the dorsal fin which is absent from a southern kingfish. A southern kingfish has faint barring on the side which seems to match the photo.

Other characteristics of a southern kingfish" 7-8 obscure diagonal dusky bands on each side (never V); longest dorsal spine doesn�t reach the soft dorsal fin

Other characteristics of a northern kingfish: Dark bars on body; �bar on nape forms V with 1st bar on body�;