云纹犬牙石首鱼为辐鳍鱼纲鲈形目鲈亚目石首鱼科的其中一种，分布于西大西洋区，从美国纽约州至墨西哥湾海域，栖息深度可达30公尺，本鱼体银色，具深灰色蓝色反射和众多的圆形黑点，不规则散落在上半背部，延伸至背鳍和尾鳍，背鳍硬棘灰色，其他的鳍苍白偏黄。口大且斜，下颚突出，上颚具大型犬齿状的牙齿，大小向后逐渐增加，没有触须或孔的下巴，背鳍硬棘9-11枚;背鳍软条25-28枚;臀鳍硬棘2枚;臀鳍软条10-11枚，体长可达100公分，栖息在河口、海草生长的沙质海域，属肉食性，以鱼类及甲壳类为食，可做为食用鱼。

The spotted seatrout, also known as speckled trout (Cynoscion nebulosus), is a common estuarine fish found in the southern United States along coasts of Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Ocean. While most of these fish are caught on shallow, grassy flats, spotted seatrout reside in virtually any inshore waters, from the surf of outside islands to far up coastal rivers, where they often come for shelter during cold weather. Contrary to its name, the spotted seatrout is not a member of the trout family (Salmonidae), but of the drum family (Sciaenidae). It is popular for commercial and especially recreational fishing in coastal waters of the southeastern United States. Adults reach 19-32 inches in length and 3-15 pounds in weight.