Gulf Menhaden(Brevoortia patronus)

Menhaden are a small oval fish that is overall silver with dark spots and a yellowish tail. They are filter feeders and swim in great schools. Historically, they are one of the oldest fisheries in the country. They were used as a source of fish meal and oils for many uses. Regulations are now being implemented on a commercial scale, to ensure the protection of this vital base of the food chain for many other species of animals and fish.

They are found in the shallow coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. They form great schools that can be seen by the dark color and the mud they stir up.

These fish are very prolific and used for bait by sport fishermen and will be readily eaten by just about everything that swims. Recreationally they are caught in cast nets when they gather in schools and can be seen flipping at the surface. They often stir up silt from the bottom and can be located by the dirty spot in the water. They are frail baitfish and must be caught fresh daily and kept in a round well with lots of new water pumped in continually from the ocean. They are very oily and also work well as chunks, dead bait or chum.