274 MARINE FISHERIES OF NORTH CAROLINA 



Texas to New Jersey but not common north of Chesapeake Bay. M. saxatilis 

 (Bloch) runs from Massachusetts as far south as Florida, but is not common 

 south of Chesapeake Bay. M. Uttoralis (Holbrook) ranges from Chesapeake 

 Bay south to the Gulf coast, but not as far north as either of the other two. 

 There are other species in the West Indies, South America and the Pacific 



The species are all lumped under the name sea mullet by commercial 

 fishermen. They average about the same size — one-half pound to three 

 pounds. 



The sea mullet has never been a very well known or popular game fish 

 and there are no rod and reel records. Its presence would not act as a special 

 attraction to anglers, although it is popular where taken and is good eating. 

 In January, 1947, sea mullet were being taken on rod and reel off Morehead 

 City; the more usual season for them in Carteret County, however, is Sep- 

 tember and October. Angling is possible there from April through October. 

 Although taken commercially throughout the year, the fish becomes more 

 scarce in cold weather. 



POMPANO 



Trachinotus caroUnus (Linnaeus), and others 



At least four species of pompano occur off North Carolina. It is found in 

 the ocean, close to banks, inlets, etc., and is said to come in with the 

 breakers, T. caroUnus, whose range is Texas to Massachusetts, is the most 

 frequent of the species in this section. The permit, T. goodei, is only occa- 

 sionally present and in negligible quantity, chiefly in the Morehead City 

 section in the fall. There seems to be no rod and reel fishing for the pompano 

 in this section, chiefly because the largest run is after the sports fishing 

 season has almost entirely stopped. Commercial and angling fishermen rate 

 the fish high and it is fine eating. The average size is from one to i>^ 

 pounds. 



The other species present are T. jalcatus, the round pompano, a West 

 Indian form straggling to Massachusetts but uncommon anywhere in the 

 northern part of its range, and T. glaucus, the gaff-topsail pompano, or 

 palometa, occurring from Chesapeake Bay to the Caribbean and not uncom- 

 mon in Florida. This has been reported in quantity from Beaufort in the 

 past. We have reports of the presence of this fish off the Ocracoke section 

 and off Cape Lookout from mid-June to August, but no reports of its being 

 captured by sportsmen. All the pompanos are very popular game fishes 

 farther south. 



ATLANTIC SAILFISH 



Istiophorus americanus (Cuvier & Valenciennes) 



The genus Istiophorus is world-wide in distribution and one of our most 

 popular offshore game fishes. It ranks as a big game fish although by no 



