Description: Leiostomus xanthurus is a moderately deep-bodied, compressed fish with an elevated back. Body color is typically bluish-gray dorsally, fading to golden yellow or yellow-tan ventrally. A set of 12 -15 dark streaks run obliquely from the dorsal surface down the sides to about mid-body. These tend to fade with age. Fins are typically pale yellow in color. The head is short, with a small, inferior mouth. The maxilla extends to approximately the middle of the eye. The dorsal fin is continuous, with a notch separating the spinous portion from the soft rays. There are 9-11 dorsal spines, and 29-35 soft rays. The anal fin has 2 spines and 12-13 rays. The caudal peduncle is moderately deep, and the caudal fin is notched. A large black spot is set above the upper edge of the gill cover. There are 72-77 lateral line scales (Johnson 1978).
Similar Fish: Atlantic Croaker, Silver Perch
Where Found: Spot occur along the Atlantic coast in estuarine and coastal waters from the Gulf of Maine to Florida; however, they are most abundant from Chesapeake Bay south to South Carolina. They have been collected from the mainstream and all tributaries of Chesapeake Bay and have one of the most extensive distributions of any marine-estuarine fishes in the Bay. Spot are considered to be one of the major regulators of benthic invertebrate communities in the muddy, shallow zones of the Bay. Spawning occurs in offshore coastal waters in late fall to early spring. After spawning, adults may remain offshore, whereas larval spot will enter the Bay as early as December and appear in nursery areas in April and May. Primary nursery areas for juvenile spot occur in low salinity areas of bays and tidal creeks, but they can also be found associated with eelgrass communities. Young spot grow rapidly over the summer months and by fall, reach an average total length of five inches. Adult and juvenile spot are most abundant in the Bay from April to October. As water temperatures decrease in the fall, most juveniles move to the ocean by December, but some may over-winter in deeper waters of the Bay. Their maximum life span is about five years, although fish over three years of age are uncommon.
Size: Spot can reach a maximum of 36 centimeters but usually barely exceed a foot in length. Approximate lengths for fish ages 1-5 are 5.5 inches, 8.5 inches, 9.5 inches, 11.5 inches, and 13.5 inches, respectively. The largest spot ever recorded measured 14 inches in length and the oldest was 5 years of age. .
Chesapeake Bay Record: The Chesapeake Bay angling record in Maryland was caught in Tangier Sound and weighed 2 pounds by Parlett Moore September 5, 1978
Bait used: Spot prefer pieces of clam and cut fish or worms.
Tactics to catch: Optimal supplies for fishing for Spot are light lines and small hooks.
Climate: They can tolerate a wide range of temperatures (35-95 degrees)
Spawning habits: Spot migrate seasonally, entering bays and estuaries in the spring, where they remain until late summer or fall when they move offshore to spawn. They mature between ages 2 and 3 at lengths of seven to eight inches with females producing at least 70,000 - 90,000 eggs.In the first year it may reach 5.9 inches; in the second year, 8.7 inches; and in the third year 11 inches. Spot may spawn repeatedly over several weeks, with some individuals remaining offshore after spawning. In the south Atlantic region of the U.S., spawning occurs from October through March, peaking in December and January. This is later than in mid-Atlantic waters and earlier than in the Gulf of Mexico, where spawning begins in December and peaks in January and February.
Table food? Their flesh is excellent and can be fried fresh or after being stored in salt. The flesh is soft and has a good flavor; they are known as very good panfish
Consumption Concerns: No information available
Feeding habits: Spot are omnivores. They consume bottom dwelling, soft bodied (benthic) invertebrates and smaller, easily crushed crabs and shrimp. Polychaetes, crustaceans, worms, small fish, small plankton, and mullusks, as well as plant and animal detritus, are also favorites
Remarks: Spot are one of the species most frequently caught by recreational fishermen in Maryland. The recreational catch of spot from the Chesapeake region (in pounds) usually exceeds the commercial catch from the same area.
Spot travel in huge, slow-moving aggregates over sand-mud bottoms. They are a schooling fish and travel in groups of 100 or more. The male Spot makes a drumming sound with his swim bladder. Common predators of the Spot are the striped bass, bluefish, flounder, shark, and weakfish