whiting

[big jay]

http://www.fishingnj.org/prohake.htm

I've had the best luck using a white feathered sibiki, but the bigger ones will eat mackeral rigs no problem.

Caught my largest giant on a chunk of one of them. Excellent live bait.

[Raider Ronnie]

We piched up a few last week while bottom jigging when we set up to shark fish.

[MikeToole]

The statement in the link attached above "it is not an important quarry of the sportsfishermen." would not have been true in the 60s when they were plentiful off the NJ coast. This was the number one target of the winter party boat fleet, along with ling. It's only true today because like many other fish their numbers are way down. Smoked whiting was sold in most fish markets and bars along the Jersey shore.

[plankton]

Here's a link to "Fishes of the Gulf of Maine", which I believe was taken from an old book, great source for identifying fish, and although the drawings are not in color the descriptions are excellent.

http://www.gma.org/fogm/

[niko]

thanks boys. we'll be out there tomorrow

[piemma]

I think they were also called Frost Fish. Guys use to fish for them from the surf in Jan.

[spinncognito]

Very tasty fish as well. Almost smelt-like with delicate white (of course) meat. Lightly floured and fried up in hot oil- delish!