Abstract:
Because of a black spot directly behind its gills, the spot, or Leiostomus xanthurus, is one of the easiest ocean fishes to identify. The spot is a plentiful fish. Over four million spot were caught in 2004 by recreational anglers. In 1933, THE STATE magazine reported a commercial catch of 200,000 pounds in a single net. Morris describes how the spot provided food for many farm families through the winter.