Other names: whiting, gulf whiting, Gulf kingfish

Description: The Gulf king Whiting is silvery gray above, paler on the underside, with no dark markings on the sides.

Fishing tips: The best bait is peeled shrimp bits fished on the bottom using the tiniest hook you can find. Try a #10 minnow hook.

Habitat/Habits: Gulf kingfish, also called Gulf whiting, live in small schools in the surf along the Texas coast. Young Whiting sometimes move into the shallows in coastal bays. Like their relatives the southern whiting, Gulf king whiting feed on bottom-dwelling animals such as worms, clams and other shellfish.

Southern Whiting

Description: Southern Whiting range from silver-gray to copper colored with darker markings on the sides. This makes them harder to see in the sandy surf areas where they live. Along the Texas coast, both southern kingfish and Gulf kingfish are known as whiting.

Habitat/Habit: They are found in abundance in the surf area along the beach and their range extends to Chesapeake Bay on the Atlantic coast.

Fishing tips: The best bait is peeled shrimp bits fished on the bottom using the tiniest hook you can find. Try a #10 minnow hook.

HOOKING A WHITING AS BAIT

If you plan on using a whiting that is 6 inches long or larger as bait, you will need a 5/0 or larger hook. Run the hook up through the whiting's open mouth, This will keep your bait alive much longer.