Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 9 - 180 m (Ref. 93252), usually 20 - 70 m (Ref. 27549). Temperate; 46°N - 26°N, 82°W - 63°W
Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia in Canada to northern Florida in the USA; rare north of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, USA.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 22.1 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 45.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7251); common length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3822); max. published weight: 1.6 kg (Ref. 4699); max. reported age: 7 years (Ref. 55523)
Occurs mainly on sand bottom from inshore estuaries to about 180 m depth. Found occasionally over reefs. Feeds mainly on crustaceans and fishes. Used both for food and fish meal; other uses include for bait, pet food and fertilizer.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray, 1986. A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p. (Ref. 7251)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; bait: occasionally
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