Identify this fish...

[ced0412]

Never seen one of these things, came off Lanark when catching pinfish for tarpon.

Some things that might not show in the photo's are the two feelers under the chin, pointed nose, sharp teeth and a black spot at the tail.

[WaltDawg]

I put the same post up last fall because I didn't know what it was. Majority of the response was whiting. I had caught a bunch in the past and they never had the camo, but I think that's what it is. Mine were caught in Oyster Bay. Maybe the habitat effects their color?

[Jobu]

Also called a Gulf Kingfish. Supposed to be good eating.

[Talltails]

Carolina Croaker

[birddog]

Croaker.

[ced0412]

Thanks, you all pointed me in the right direction.

Looks like it's officially a "Southern Kingfish", which differs from a Gulf Kingfish in the colorations and splotches. I think the term Whiting and Croaker is actually used for what is the Gulf Kingfish around here. Maybe they are the same thing, and vary in color and patterns by their habitat as WaltDawg mentioned.

[Barhopr]

So, how did it taste?

[ced0412]

So, how did it taste?

We'll never know, I let it go back to dirty water...

It was fortunate to be fairly large, as I was having a hard time catching Pinfish for the Poon's, being a bit smaller I might have been tempted to use him as bait

[MudDucker]

Croaker ... close kin to a whiting.

[DixieReb]

That is a whiting, big one. Very good eating. Croakers sometimes get that big but rarely.