Pigfish

Common between 3 and 6 inches; may reach 10 or 12 inches.

Grunt, Orange Grunt, Piggy

Unlike most Grunts, the Pigfish doesn't mind murky water or soft bottom, and makes itself at home in a variety of shallow-water habitats throughout the state. Although most are taken over grassy flats, they are also plentiful around bars and along channel edges. Inhabits coastal waters, over sand and mud bottoms. Forms schools. Mainly nocturnal and non-burrowing. Feeds on crustaceans and smaller fishes. Undergoes seasonal migration as well as local nocturnal-diurnal foraging migrations

Light brown or gray, with numerous small orange and blue markings and a small mouth. Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-17; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12 - 13. Back elevated; snout long and tapering. Mouth a little oblique; maxillary reaching vertical from first nostril. Scales in oblique rows above lateral line and horizontal rows below lateral line, extending on base of caudal, pelvic and pectoral fins; also forming a low sheath on base of anal and dorsal fins.

Spawning may occur in open water just prior to inshore migration or in quiet inshore waters, such as harbors, estuaries, and inshore banks, but may begin on outer shores first. Pigfish spawn at dusk exclusively. In general, larger fish spawn first, with smaller ones spawning latest in the season.

Summary of Distribution: Western Atlantic: New York, USA and Bermuda to Mexico.
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)

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	Trawling Trawling is when....

Small Pigfish are preferred live baits for Seatrout and other species - the thought being that their grunting attracts the predators from a goodly distance away. If you're seeking Pigfish for bait, use canepole or light spinning gear with small hooks and bits of cut bait or shrimp. Most Pigfish are caught, however, on tackle used for Seatrout on the grass flats. They are also popular potluck catches from docks and bridges, especially on the Gulf Coast. They will take shrimp, of course, and just about any size strip bait. They may hit jigs and small plugs.