Menhaden

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{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Menhaden | image = Brevoortia patronus.jpg | image_width = 240px | image_caption = Gulf Menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Actinopterygii | ordo = Clupeiformes | familia = Clupeidae | genus = Brevoortia and Ethmidium | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text. }}

Menhaden are fish of the genus Brevoortia and ethmidiumtwo genera of marine fish in the family Clupeidae.

1 Genus Brevoortia
2 Description
3 Range
4 Life History
5 Feeding Habits
6 Commercial Importance
7 Genus Ethmidium

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Genus Brevoortia

Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus)
Yellowfin menhaden (Brevoortia smithi)
Finescale menhaden (Brevoortia gunteri)
Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus)
Brazilian menhaden (Brevoortia aurea)
Argentine menhaden (Brevoortia pectinata)

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Description

Gulf menhaden and Atlantic menhaden are characterized by a series of smaller spots behind the main, Humeral spot and larger scales than Yellowfin Menhaden and Finescale menhaden. In addition, Yellowfin Menhadentail rays are a bright yellow in contrast to those of the Atlantic Menhaden, which are grayish. Menhaden range in weight up to one pound or more. At sea, schools of Atlantic Menhaden may contain millions of members. Common names for Atlantic Menhaden are Mossbunkers, and Fatback. In florida, Yellowfin Menhaden are called Pogies, and are the preferred species for use as strip-bait.

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Range

Gulf Menhaden range from the Yucatan peninsula to Tampa bay Florida, Finescale from the Yucatan to Louisiana,Yellow fin from Louisiana to North Carolina. The Atlantic Menhaden ranges from Jupiter inlet, Florida to Nova Scotia. The various species of Menhaden occur anywhere from estuarine waters outwards to the continental shelf.

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Life History

Spawning occurs off-shore, peaking in December and January, continuing through March for Atlantic Menhaden. Eggs hatch at sea and currents carry the larvae in to estuarine waters where they spend the early part of their lives. Beginning at age one, Menhaden leave the estuaries for open waters where they spawn before returning to the coast.

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Feeding Habits

Menhaden are essentially filter feeders, straining microscopic life, algae etc., from the water they swim through open-mouthed. Unlike Mullet, they are not bottom feeders. Due to their feeding habits, they must be caught by cast netting to be used as live bait.

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Commercial Importance

Menhaden are the primary source of fish-meal, used as food for poultry and for pen-raised fish such as Salmon. They are not used for human consumption. They die quickly, and spoil rapidly if not immediately gutted and iced. They are an important forage fish for all predatory fishes in their range. Consequently, they are widely used as live bait for King Mackerel, Snapper and Grouper.

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