Singular dark spot located behind gill plate above pectoral fins. Slightly diagonal stripes running from back to belly along length of the body. Upper half of body is brown, tan, and/or silver while the lower half of the body near the belly is typically white. Round blunt snout. Deeply notched dorsal fin that looks like two detached dorsal fins, first spinous and second soft. Fins exhibit yellow tinge. Lateral line extends onto dorsal fin.Spot juveniles are white to translucent, with a blunt nose and a truncate (flat) tail, and a dark black spots down its lateral line. They appear in late winter to early spring (February - May).