Texas Gulf Coast Fishing

Bay Whiff

BAY WHIFF - Citharichthys spilopterus

Description: The bay whiff, Citharichthys spilopterus, is a relatively small flatfish of the family Bothidae. Members of this group are known as "lefteye flounders" because both eyes and pigmentation are on the left side of the body. The body is mostly brown, often with small, obscure spots.
Distribution: The range extends from New Jersey to the Gulf of Mexico and from the Antilles to Brazil. The bay whiff is most abundant in tropical and subtropical waters, but can be found in mild temperate climates as well. In addition, the estuarine nature of the species often subjects it to large variations in water temperature. Populations can be found in a variety of shallow coastal habitats to a depth of 75 m.
Habitat: Because of its wide environmental tolerances, the bay whiff thrives at multiple latitudes and habitat types.
Remarks: Like many flatfishes, they are ambush predators. Juveniles and adults camouflage themselves on or just below the sediment surface. When prey swims overhead, the fish elevates itself with the benthic pectoral fin to observe the organism before swiftly attacking and returning to the bottom. Ontogenetic shifts in dietary preferences have been documented for the bay whiff, with prey items varying with age or size of individuals. Juvenile fishes prefer a wider range of foods, including: the calanoid copepod, amphipods, mysid shrimps, and detritus. As the bay whiff grows, it begins to consume mostly other fishes and larger crustaceans.