Whitebone Porgy
Identification
Whitebone Porgy (Calamus leucosteus) are one of the smaller porgy species found on OBX reefs, typically running 10 to 14 inches and under a pound. They have a silvery body with a subtle brassy or yellowish tint and faint vertical bars along the sides. The name “whitebone” comes from the pale coloration around the mouth and jaw. They have the deep, compressed body typical of porgies, with strong molar-like teeth for crushing shellfish. They can be distinguished from other Calamus species by their smaller size and less pronounced head knobs or coloration.
Habitat and Behavior
Whitebone porgy prefer hard-bottom habitat — rocky ledges, coral rubble, wrecks, and artificial reef structure. Off the Outer Banks, they are found in 50 to 140 feet of water, often mixed in with red porgy, knobbed porgy, and other reef species. They are bottom feeders that use their crushing teeth to eat crabs, shrimp, sea urchins, and small mollusks. Like other porgies, they school, and multiple species are often caught on the same drop. They are not the primary target on most OBX bottom trips but are a common and welcome bycatch that adds variety to the catch.
Fishing Techniques
Standard bottom rig — a two-hook chicken rig with a 3- to 5-ounce sinker — is the most effective setup. Use smaller hooks (size 1 to 1/0) since whitebone porgy have relatively small mouths. Fish the rig straight down over hard bottom, keeping weight on the bottom. Drift fishing over reef structure will cover more ground and find the schools. Because they are smaller fish, lighter leaders (20–30 lb fluorocarbon) can increase bites when the water is clear and the bite is tough.
Baits and Lures
Squid strips are the universal porgy bait and work just as well for whitebone porgy. Shrimp is excellent, especially fresh. Bloodworms and small pieces of cut bait will also produce. Keep bait pieces small — match the hook size to the fish’s mouth. A small strip of squid on a size 1 hook is ideal. Tipping small jigs with squid is another option when the fish are actively feeding up off the bottom.
Best Times and Locations on the OBX
Whitebone porgy are most commonly caught from May through October when OBX reef fishing is in full swing. They appear on the same hard-bottom areas off Oregon Inlet, Hatteras, and the central OBX coast that produce red porgy, triggerfish, and other reef fish. Party and charter boats running bottom trips frequently pick up whitebone porgy while targeting bigger reef species. They are more common on the shallower to mid-depth reefs (50–100 feet) than on the deepest drops.
Regulations
Whitebone porgy fall under the same NC aggregate porgy regulation as other porgy species — typically 10 fish per person per day with a 10-inch minimum size. Regulations are subject to change, so check current NC DMF and SAFMC rules before your trip.