Species profile
Atlantic Menhaden
Brevoortia tyrannus
Identify Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 3 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 5 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Confirmed by 2,865 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with New York, Maryland, and New Jersey the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- A single school can contain millions of fish, forming dense dark slicks visible from shore.
- They are filter feeders, swimming open-mouthed to strain phytoplankton from the water.
- They are critical prey for striped bass, bluefish, bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, and ospreys.
- Indigenous peoples and colonial farmers used menhaden as crop fertilizer for centuries.
- Can grow up to 15 inches (38 cm) long and live up to 10 years.
Where Atlantic Menhaden are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Atlantic Menhaden
Background
The Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) is a North American species of fish in the herring family, Clupeidae.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Atlantic Menhaden article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Atlantic Menhaden?
Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 5 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Atlantic Menhaden?
Atlantic Menhaden is Brevoortia tyrannus.
Is Atlantic Menhaden regulated for fishing?
Yes — Atlantic Menhaden has fishing regulations in 3 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Atlantic Menhaden?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Atlantic Menhaden along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.