Species profile
Pinfish
Lagodon rhomboides
At a glance
Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 6,519 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, Texas, and North Carolina the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Pinfish rarely exceed 14 inches and are among the most abundant fish in Atlantic and Gulf Coast seagrass beds.
- Their sharp dorsal and anal fin spines can easily puncture skin when handled carelessly.
- Pinfish are omnivores that eat seagrass, small crustaceans, worms, and tiny fish.
- They are one of the most popular live baits for snook, redfish, and flounder along the Gulf Coast.
- Pinfish tolerate a wide salinity range, moving freely between open bays and brackish estuaries.
Where Pinfish are seen
Background
The pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides, is a saltwater fish of the Sparidae family, the breams and porgies. It inhabits mostly subtropical shallow coastal waters of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States and Mexico. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Lagodon. Other common names include pin perch, sand perch, and butterfish.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Pinfish article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.