Gulf menhaden

Brevoortia patronus

Family Clupeidae - herring

Distinguishing
Characteristics
Body deep, compressed; color blue-green above, sides and belly yellowish to silver; dark spot on shoulder, sometimes with a series of diffused spots behind shoulder spot; fins yellowish, caudal fin with dusky tips; typical herring mouth (short, deep lower jaw hidden by wide rounded upper jaw), upper jaw with frontal notch; belly with serrated keel; 2 rows of enlarged scales on back in front of dorsal fin; pelvic fin rounded, inner and outer rays about the same length; striated lines on opercle.
Similar Species
Differs from finescale menhaden by having striated lines on opercle, rounded pelvic fins (outer rays and inner rays about the same length); other herrings do not have 2 rows of enlarged scales on back in front of dorsal fin.
Habitat
Gulf and bay
Maximum Size
35 cm (14 in), common to 27 cm (10 1/2 in)
Fin Element Counts
D. 17-21; A. 20-23 (explain)
Other Common Names
Previous Scientific Names
Comments
State size/bag limits