| The Mid Atlantic region has excellent fishing for | | | | along the North and mid-Atlantic coast of the |
| several species of saltwater fish. Popular inshore | | | | USA. Tautog live in structure such as rocky |
| fish of the region include Atlantic croakers, | | | | bottoms, wreckages and reefs. Tautog are a |
| bluefish, sea bass, spot, summer flounder, red | | | | challenge to catch and thrilling to fish for. The fish |
| drum, striped bass, tautog and weakfish. Atlantic | | | | live in and around structure such as rocky |
| Croaker Atlantic Croaker or "hardhead" are | | | | bottoms, sunken ships and artificial reefs. Tackle |
| popular saltwater fish common along the Atlantic | | | | and techniques are simple and no prior experience |
| coast. The fish get their names because of the | | | | is needed to catch these tasty fish. They vary in |
| "croaking" noise the make when removed from | | | | size from about 12 inches to perhaps 12 lbs or |
| the water. Croakers are hard fighters and prolific | | | | more. They are very tough fighters and excellent |
| feeders. They are caught on a variety of baits | | | | table fare. Red Drum Red drum or redfish can be |
| and lures and even go after flies in shallow water | | | | caught in a myriad of ways. Probably the most |
| areas. Croakers are easily accessible, being caught | | | | widely utilized technique for catching red drum |
| on piers, jetties, small boats, charter boats and | | | | along the Atlantic coast is to anchor along a |
| head boats. Bluefish Bluefish are an exciting | | | | channel edge or shoal and bottom fish with cut |
| gamefish. They are found all along the USA east | | | | peeler crab bait or other baits including, squid, cut |
| coast, sometimes in large schools. The fish are | | | | spot, live spot and even chicken breast soaked in |
| voracious feeders and are known for their sharp | | | | peeler crab oil. Surf fishing is a another way to |
| teeth and ability to demolish even the strongest | | | | catch red drum. Along the Atlantic beaches and |
| tackle. In some areas cut baits are used, including | | | | barrier islands, anglers use a fish finder or other |
| squid, fish, bloodworms or other baits. Anglers also | | | | rig and fish with baits such as whole spot, spot |
| troll, jig, cast artificial lures and fly fish for bluefish. | | | | fillets or heads, mullet, bluefish fillets, crabs, shrimp |
| The fish have dark, oily meat but are excellent | | | | or other baits. Further South, anglers fish flats and |
| smoked. Sea Bass Sea Bass fishing is popular | | | | grass beds with live baits such as shrimp or cast |
| along the Atlantic coast. Anglers fish year round | | | | artificial lures or saltwater flies to red drum. |
| for this exceptionally delicious fish, although the | | | | Striped Bass Striped bass have several regional |
| fish migrate to deeper water in winter. Peak | | | | names. Known as striped bass, stripers, linesides, |
| fishing is usually May and early June and again in | | | | rockfish and other names, this fish is highly sought |
| the fall. In the spring, wrecks, reefs and rough | | | | after as a recreational fish, as a commercial |
| bottom in depths of 50 - 80 feet usually hold the | | | | species and is even grown in aquaculture |
| most fish. Bigger fish can sometimes be enticed | | | | operations. Striped bass are very hardy fish, and |
| by using larger baits. Favorite rigs for bigger fish | | | | even take to life in freshwater where they are |
| include single hook rigs with a whole squid for bait, | | | | often stocked throughout the USA. Rigs and baits |
| large bucktail jigs with squid strips and large metal | | | | for striped bass vary with their location and what |
| jigs. The larger baits catch less total fish but with | | | | the fish are feeding on. In some areas cut baits |
| a much higher average weight. Black sea bass are | | | | are used, including clams, fish, crabs, shrimp, squid, |
| excellent table fare. The meat is firm, white and | | | | bloodworms or other baits. Anglers also troll, jig, |
| delicious and is served fried, grilled, baked or | | | | cast artificial lures and fly fish for striped bass. |
| broiled. Spot Spot occur along the Atlantic coast in | | | | Weakfish Weakfish are beautiful fish. The name |
| estuarine and coastal waters from the Gulf of | | | | "weakfish" comes from the fish's fragile mouth, |
| Maine to Florida, although they are most abundant | | | | which tears easily when hooked. Typically, |
| from Chesapeake Bay south to South Carolina. | | | | weakfish have a dark olive back, iridescent blue |
| Spot are fun to catch and a great fish for anglers | | | | and copper sides and a silvery white belly. Other |
| of all ages. Spot are caught along inlets, fishing | | | | identifying features are yellow fins, large canine |
| piers and in inshore bays. Anglers use standard 2 | | | | teeth in the upper jaw and dark spots on the |
| hook rigs, using small hooks and small pieces of | | | | upper part of the body, sometimes forming |
| bait. Popular baits include bloodworms, shrimp, | | | | diagonal lines. Most adult weakfish range from 12 |
| clam and synthetic bloodworm type baits. | | | | to 18 inches but can grow up to to 3 feet long |
| Summer Flounder Summer flounder are found | | | | and weigh 4-18 pounds. Weakfish are members |
| around inlets, jetties and dropoffs. Flounder are | | | | of the drum family, which includes spot, red drum, |
| not born with both eyes on one side. During | | | | back drum and Atlantic croaker. This family of |
| growth, the "bottom" eye migrates to the | | | | fish make a drumming or croaking sound by |
| upward-facing side of its body. This allows the | | | | vibrating its swim bladder using special muscles. |
| flounder to lie on one side, burying in the sand | | | | The author maintains seafood related websites |
| where it can ambush its prey. Flounder feed on a | | | | including Fresh-Seafood, Commercial Fishing and |
| variety of small fish and crustaceans Tautog | | | | Chesapeake Bay News. |
| Tautog or blackfish are long lived fish that live | | | | |