Shad & Herring
Atlantic Menhaden
Brevoortia tyrannus
SaltwaterClupeidaeNot overfished, but subject to regional management plans due to its ecological importance.
About
The Atlantic Menhaden is a small, oily fish characterized by a single dorsal fin and a silvery body. They are filter feeders, swimming with their mouths open to capture plankton, and form large schools, often near the surface.
- Average size
- Typically 6-8 inches, up to 15 inches
- Colors
- Silvery sides, greenish-blue back, with a prominent dark spot behind the gill plate
- Diet
- Phytoplankton and zooplankton
- Region
- Atlantic coast of North America, from Nova Scotia to Florida