DISTINGUISHING FEATURES AND BEHAVIORS

The squeteague, or weakfish, a sea trout, is one of the most easily identifiable fish in Narragansett Bay. Squeteague look similar to bluefish in fin shape and color. Its anal fin is short, and of the two dorsal fins present, the first is higher than the second. The body is streamlined and slightly flattened, resembling fresh-water trout in shape. Its snout is slightly pointed, with a fairly large mouth. Weakfish have two large canine teeth in the upper jaw, and the lower jaw protrudes slightly. The squeteague got its name, weakfish, because of the ease with which a hook tears from its mouth.

Squeteague move near the surface in schools of hundreds of fish. They are fast swimming and active predators, feeding on schools of menhaden, mummichogs, other small fish, crabs, mollusks, and worms. Squeteague in turn are preyed upon by bluefish and striped bass.

Squeteague belong to a family of fish called drums. Most male drums can produce a croaking or drumming sound. An important behavioral signal used during spawning, weakfish create this sound by contracting abdominal muscles against the swim bladder. Most species of drum have a sensory chin barbel used for bottom feeding. This barbel is absent from drum species that inhabit the pelagic zone, such as the squeteague.

The kingfish (Menticirrhus saxatilis), another species of drum similar to the squeteague, is common in Narragansett Bay. The kingfish is usually smaller, with dark bars on the side, a longer dorsal fin, and a barbel on the chin. Unlike the squeteague, kingfish to not make drumming sounds.

RELATIONSHIP TO PEOPLE

The squeteague is an important food fish caught both commercially and recreationally. Squeteague spawn in the quiet coves of Narragansett Bay; however, populations are down, and the observance of young squeteague is rare. Few appeared in the Bay during the 1980's, resulting in restrictions being placed on the fishery.

The low populations in the Bay are believed to correspond to increased fishing pressure farther south. Juvenile squeteague make up a significant bycatch in the southern shrimp-trawl fishery, resulting in a coastwide population decrease.