276 MARINE FISHERIES OF NORTH CAROLINA 



supposed to be at the time of the first spawning — usually April through 

 July. Young up to 25 pounds are fished by fly casting; larger ones by still 

 fishing or cork fishing from a small boat. Adult tarpon average between 40 

 and 60 pounds; the rod and reel record, taken in the Panuco River in 

 March, 1938, weighed 247 pounds. 



Most tarpon caught off North Carolina have been netted by chance. 

 They have been caught off Roanoke Island in September and October and 

 sighted in the surf there in May and June. They have also been seen in the 

 Inlet at Hatteras in the fall. In the Wilmington section, two tarpon of 

 about 35 pounds have been caught by surf casting, and several netted. On 

 August I, 1927, a 57-pound tarpon was taken in surf fishing in New River 

 Inlet. Other reports say that the fish is fairly common along the North 

 Carolina beaches in the fall, schooling in or near the surf. Mr. Aycock Brown 

 reports that many tarpon are caught in menhaden nets. 



* SEA TROUT, ALSO CALLED GRAY TROUT AND WEAKFISH 



Cyno scion regalis (Bloch & Schneider) 



This game fish occurs from Florida to Massachusetts and occasionally 

 as far north as the Gulf of Maine. It is found in large quantity in tide rips, 

 channels, inlets and the surf almost all year from North Carolina south; 

 north of that it is seasonal. There are big runs from May to October off 

 Long Island and New Jersey. It is a profitable commercial catch and the 

 object of large fisheries. Probably more than one species is found off North 

 Carolina but the only differentiation by fishermen is between this and the 

 spotted trout, whose winter season somewhat overlaps the tag end of the 

 sea trout's season. 



The fish is known to spawn in Chesapeake Bay. 



The average size of sea trout is from two to five pounds, but it often 

 runs larger. The rod and reel record, taken in September, 1944, in Mullica 

 River, New Jersey, weighed 17 pounds 8 ounces. 



In the Roanoke Island section angling is best for this fish in spring and 

 fall; April and October are the best months for it in the Morehead City 

 section and south. 



* SPOTTED TROUT, ALSO CALLED SPECKLED SEA TROUT OR SPECKLED WEAKFISH 



Cynoscion nebulosus (Cuvier & Valenciennes) 



This fish occurs from New York to Texas but is uncommon north of 

 Delaware. It runs somewhat smaller than the sea trout, with which fishermen 

 and anglers confuse it. "Sea trout" taken from September on, are apt to be 

 this fish, although in September some of both kinds are present. 



Spotted trout is commercially important from Virginia south and on the 

 Gulf coast. It is particularly important in North Carolina in the winter months 



