394 GAME FISH OF NORTH AMERICA. 



SCI^NIDyE. 

 Redfish ; Red drum, or Channel Bass- — Scianops ocellatus. — Gill. 



This is a very common and numerous species on the Florida 

 coasts, and is a fish much resembling in habits its congener, the 

 striped bass of more northern waters. It is talcen with similar 

 baits, such as shrimp, crab, or a piece of mullet ; it fights long 

 and hard on the hook, and in the proper season is an excellent 

 table fish, boiled, cut in steaks, and broiled, or even fried. In the 

 fall and winter the redfish is lean and without flavor, but improves 

 in March, and in July becomes the best of the coast fishes, as well 

 as the most abundant. At that season it swarms in the river 

 mouths and sounds, and can be taken with almost any bait. It is 

 also found of large size in the surf on the sea-beaches, and can be 

 readily taken by casting a baited hook with a hand line from the 

 shore. 



Specimens under seven or eight pounds weight have the back 

 of a steel blue, sides golden, and belly white — the larger fish are 

 of a brilliant golden red on back and sides. All have the black 

 spot near the tail, from which the specific name is derived. Some- 

 times there are two or more spots. 



It comes into the rivers with the tide, and is best taken in the 

 channels near the shore at half flood. As in sheepshead fishing, most 

 persons use the hand line, with the bait on the bottom, but better 

 sport can be had with a bass rod and reel to hold sixty or seventy 

 yards of line, using a float to keep the bait within three feet of the 

 bottom. The same hook as for striped bass ; this fish has a tough 

 but not very bony mouth, and is easily hooked. It is also taken fre- 

 quently with a fly and trolling spoon. In March and April in the 

 rivers and inlets they run from five to ten pounds weight ; later 

 in the season of larger size, say from fifteen to thirty pounds. 



It makes its appearance in Carolina waters in November. It 



spawns in August and September in the shallow bays and inlets. 



In November and December the largest fish are caught. Its range 



extends to New York. 



TROxn" ; Spotted sea trout; salt water trout, or grey trout.- Cynoscion maculaius. 



—Gill. 



This fish is known as the weakfish and by other names on the 

 northern coast. Ground color of body silvery. Black above the 



