What is "weakfish"

squeteague \sque*teague"\ (skw[-e]*t[=e]g"), n. [From the North American Indian name.] (Zo["o]l.) An American sci[ae]noid fish ( Cynoscion regalis), abundant on the Atlantic coast of the United States, and much valued as a food fish. It is of a bright silvery color, with iridescent reflections. Called also weakfish, squitee, chickwit, and sea trout. The spotted squeteague ( Cynoscion nebulosus) of the Southern United States is a similar fish, but the back and upper fins are spotted with black. It is called also spotted weakfish and squit, and, locally, sea trout, and sea salmon. See also under squitee.

1838, from Dutch weekvisch, from week "soft" (see weak). So called because it does not pull hard when hooked.

n. Any of several species of game fish, of the genus ''Cynoscion'', found in North American waters.

1. n. lean flesh of food and game fishes of the Atlantic coast of the United States

2. food and game fish of North American coastal waters with a mouth from which hooks easily tear out [syn: Cynoscion regalis]

3. [also: weakfishes (pl)]

The weakfish, Cynoscion regalis, is a marine fish of the drum family Sciaenidae.

A medium-large, slender, marine fish, it is found along the east coast of North America. The head and back of this fish are dark brown in color with a greenish tinge. The sides have a faint silvery hue with dusky specks, and the belly is white. The origin of its name is based on the weakness of the mouth muscles, which often cause a hook to tear free, allowing the fish to escape. The weakfish grows to 1 m (3 feet) in length and 9 kg (20 pounds) in weight. It is found along the eastern coast of North America from Nova Scotia, Canada to northern Florida, where it is fished both commercially and recreationally.

Weakfish are also known by the American Indian name Squeteague. In the mid-Atlantic states, the fish is sometimes referred to by the name sea trout, though it is not related to the fishes properly called trout, which are in the family Salmonidae.

The weakfish is the state fish of Delaware.