The Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) is a small marine filter-feeding fish belonging to the family Alosidae.

The center of distribution of the species appears to be the northwest/northcentral Gulf,[2] particularly in Louisiana and Texas where populations are very large and numerous.

[9] Gulf menhaden also may have a presence on the southern Atlantic coast of Florida,[9][10] although this finding is based primarily upon DNA evidence.

As they age and their gill rakers fully develop, menhaden shift their diet to primarily consume zooplankton.

[2] Eggs and larvae are pelagic and are carried into estuarine nursery areas via prevailing currents.

[16] This is both due to the healthy status of the stock as well as the fishery's low levels of bycatch, which it achieves with the use of purse seine nets.

According to the GSMFC: "Menhaden do not have the capacity to reduce unwanted phytoplankton blooms that arise from manmade sources, primarily because they eat mostly zooplankton.