kingfish a name best reserved for two fish of the W. Atlantic, Menticirrhus saxatilis, the northern kingfish, and M. americanus, the southern kingfish; but the name is often used in a loose way of other species; see amberjack, including yellowtail and wahoo. These fish are closely related, within the family Sciaenidae, to the croakers and drums, but lack an air bladder so cannot make the noise which their cousins produce. The northern kingfish has irregular dark bars on its sides, which the other species lacks. Maximum length 40 cm (16").
