Spadefish?

Type: Tidal
Region: Central
Location: Rocky Point Park, Essex

I went fishing a few weeks ago at Rocky Point Park in Essex. I caught a fish I have yet to be able to identify. In total I caught about 4 of them but threw the rest of them back and kept one to take to the tackle shop. A gentleman at the shop told me that it was a spadefish. If it was, why was it this far up the Bay? The fishing was really good. The white perch were the biggest I had seen in a while. I also caught some really nice catfish that day.

Editors Note from DNR: This is not a spadefish, it is a young black drum. Young black drum have the vertical dark bars, and may be easily confused with spadefish or sheepshead.