Pigfish
Orthopristis chrysoptera
How to tell it
Bronze flecked grunt that actually grunts; no shoulder spot.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2 lb 4.6 oz | 2016 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Mississippi | 1 lb 1.76 oz | 2004 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| North Carolina | 2 lb 12 oz | 2016 · Atlantic Ocean SE of Cape Lookout | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| Texas | 1.2 lb | 2025 · Offats Bayou | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Fine panfish, better king bait.
In the app
Point the camera at a pigfish 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 pigfish
What is the record pigfish?
2 lb 12 oz in North Carolina (2016), Atlantic Ocean SE of Cape Lookout. Other states’ records are in the table.