King Fish, the common name of the perchlike, sciaenoid fishes of the genus umbrina, especially the U. nebulosa (Storer) or U. alburnus (De Kay), the former being regarded by Storer as the northern and the latter as the southern species. It is of a dull gray color, with silvery reflections on the sides and irregular dark bars, one broad, one extending straight backward from the end of the pectorals to the tail; beneath, yellowish; extremities of first dorsal, pectorals, and ventrals white, rays black, second dorsal and base pectorals and ventrals yellowish. Body elongated, snout blunt, lips fleshy, jaws with numerous small card-like teeth; small fleshy cirrhus under chin; length 16 to 17 in.; weight 1 to 2 lbs. It is a deep swimmer and a good table fish, and is often called whiting. It is rare on the New England coast, but common in the waters of the middle states.

King Fish (Umbrina nebulosa).