Black Margate
Anisotremus surinamensis
Also called Pompon.
How to tell it
Chunky pale grunt with a black smudge behind the pectoral and jet-black fins; sheepshead-deep body.
Often mistaken for
Two fish that get called black margate, and what gives each one away.
- White margate: No black blotch. Tell them apart
- Sheepshead: True vertical convict bars. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf), Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 12.8 lb | 2000 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Good.
In the app
Point the camera at a black margate and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about black margate
How do you tell black margate from white margate?
Black Margate: Chunky pale grunt with a black smudge behind the pectoral and jet-black fins; sheepshead-deep body. White margate: no black blotch.
What is the record black margate?
12.8 lb in Texas (2000), Gulf of America. Other states’ records are in the table.