Mating horseshoe crabs ...
The smaller males "hitch" a ride on the females by using their second pair of specialized pincer claws known as pedipalps. At the high tide line on shore, usually during the new and full moons in early summer, she'll scoop out 5-7 nests and lay thousands of greenish eggs. Following external fertilization, the male will unlatch to go his separate way.

Striped Bass
Marone saxatilis

The Moronidae Family of fish have a streamlined, silvery body with longitudinal stripes. Horizontal stripes are often found in schooling fish which serve as a form of disruptive coloration; the fusion of stripes between members may confuse both predator and prey. They may also visually assist in aligning and orienting members of the school

Stripers, like salmon, are anadromous fish that migrate from fresh water where they were born, to salt water for growth, and back to fresh where they spawn the next generation.

Although the largest recorded measured 6.5 feet and 125 pounds, the world record on pole weighed 78.5 pounds. On Sept. 21, 1982, Albert McReynolds reeled in a striped bass that was 53 inches long and 34.5 inches wide which took four hours to land.

Fluke, Horseshoe crab and mating spider crabs.

Typical day at the inlet in search of food.

Summer Flounder or "Fluke"
Paralichthys dentatus

Members of the Family Bothidae, the Left-Eyed Flatfish lie on the seafloor on their right side which is always white. During the early stages of development, the right eye migrates to the left side of their body.

Flukes are masters in the art of camouflage. Different species can assume a wide array of tints, from nearly white on sand through various hues of gray, blue green,orange, pink, brown to black.
Many ocelli,or eyespots, are present but five are large and consistently placed: 2 near the dosal fin, 2 near the anal fin and 1 in the middle on the lateral line.

Adult Winter Flounder
Pleuronectus americanus

Flounders are "right-eyed" flatfish whose left eye migrated to the "right" side of the body. Although their left side remains white, chromatophores on their right side are adaptations for cryptic camouflage.

Unlike flukes which are true predators, flounders have a much smaller jaw and mainly eat shrimp, worms and mussels.

Tautog, commonly known as Blackfish
Tautoga onitis

The larger males are strongly territorial and with lighter coloration. This coastal fish inhabits rocky areas, wrecks, and pilings where its favorite foods, such as mussels and crabs, thrive.