This is a large sciaenid species with a fairly pointed snout and a terminal mouth. Upper jaw reaching back well beyond eye; three rostral, five marginal and two pairs of mental pores pores, Teeth is strong and spaced in both jaws, sometimes with one upper pair of large canines: Sagitta (large earstone) with a tadpole-shaped impression comprising a big, pouched "head" and a "tail" only slightly curved and ending in a disc; lower gillrakers 10 or 11. Dorsal fin with 8-9 spines, followed by a low notch, second part of the fin with one spine and 27-32 soft rays; Caudal fin acutely pointed; Swimbladder carrot-shaped, with a single pair of appendages arising from posterior end of bladder and running forward beside main body of bladder and in front of it into the head; Head is back green/grey, flanks gold/ orange, paler toward belly, minutely dotted with brown; Lateral line golden yellow; dorsal, anal and caudal fins brown/yellow to pale orange, pelvic fins pale orange