Fish guide
Sea Robins (non-target)
Northern sea robin (Prionotus carolinus) and striped sea robin (Prionotus evolans). Also called Searobin, Robin.
Very common summer bycatch on fluke and porgy baits. Listed so you can identify it. Not a target.
We picked these fish for Virginia Beach and the Chesapeake Bay mouth, VA, the region closest to Columbus, Ohio, based on the approximate location of your internet connection (IP geolocation, looked up on our own server). It is about 436 miles away; FishOS covers the coast from Maine to Florida and the Gulf of America, and adds regions as they are checked. Pick another region if that is not where you fish.
FishOS has not charted sea robins (non-target) in Virginia Beach and the Chesapeake Bay mouth, VA. The regions where it is charted are below.
Season by region
| Long Island | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| Cape Cod | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Rhode Island | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Connecticut | JFMAMJJASOND |
Where to find them
Sandy and hard bottom in the bays, inlets and ocean reefs in summer, wherever you fish for fluke.
Bottom.
Handling
- Sharp spines on the cheeks, head and shoulders
- Spiny dorsal fin
Grip from behind the head with a towel, avoiding the cheek and shoulder spines; unhook with pliers.
Keep or release
Usually released. A Northport shop suggests a sea robin strip on a fluke jig as bait (OTW, August 13, 2020).
Typical: About a foot. Large: 15 to 16 in. NY striped sea robin record 3.70 lb (2025).
Limits
FishOS has not checked the VA limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission before you keep a fish.
Sources
- Bigelow and Schroeder, Fishes of the Gulf of Maine (online text): northern sea robin (Official source)
- NYSDEC Marine Recreational Angler Records Program (Official source)