The Silver Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), also known as the weakfish or gray seatrout, is a slender, silvery marine fish native to the western Atlantic Ocean, particularly along the eastern coast of North America. Renowned for its delicate flesh and sporting qualities, the species inhabits estuaries and coastal waters from Nova Scotia, Canada, down to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The United States is the primary country harvesting Silver Weakfish, with commercial and recreational fisheries concentrated in states such as New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, and North Carolina. While smaller-scale fisheries exist in Canada, particularly in the southern Maritime provinces, the U.S. dominates both harvest and management efforts. Historically, overfishing led to significant declines in weakfish populations, prompting stricter regulations and conservation measures in recent decades. Today, the Silver Weakfish remains an important species for both commercial markets and sport anglers, contributing to the coastal fishing economies of the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecuador | 55 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.