My Fish ID Project - TamecoP

American Eel

The American eel is a catadromous fish found on the eastern coast of North America. It has a snake-like body with a small sharp pointed head. It is greenish or yellowish-brown with a white belly, rounded tail and continuous fin stretching around the tail from the back to its underside. It has sharp pointed teeth and is very similar to the European eel, but the two species differ in number of chromosomes and vertebrae. Sexual maturity occurs around 10 to 25 years of age.

Average Length

18 - 36 inches (female)

Average Weight

8.5 oz – 3 lbs

Temperature Range

40 - 78 degrees Fahrenheit

Habitat

American eel habitats range from warm freshwater rivers and lakes to coastal brackish areas to the open ocean, to cold trout streams.

Range

The eel is native to the eastern United States and found around the Atlantic coast including Chesapeake Bay and the Hudson River, and from Greenland to northern South America

American Shad: The largest of the river herring family, American shad are typically silver-sided with greenish-blue backs, deep bodied from the side with rows of dark spots, and narrow and symmetrical from top to bottom head-on. The upper and lower jaws are of equal length when the mouth is closed. It is a species of anadromous fish, living primarily in the sea, but spawning in fresh water.

Average Length

10 - 30 inches

Average Weight

2 - 7 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

American shad enter rivers in the early spring and can travel hundreds of miles upstream, especially in the open rivers of the southeast. Shad have spread throughout many river systems on the west coast of North America.

Range

There is currently a very large shad population in the Columbia River. They are also found along the Atlantic seaboard from Labrador to Florida.

Apache Trout: The Apache trout is a striking fish that’s native to Arizona and has been designated

the state fish. It’s a yellowish-gold color and has medium-sized dark spots that may extend below the lateral line and onto the dorsal and tail fins. The top of the Apache trout’s head and back are dark olive in color and there is a cutthroat mark below the lower jaw, ranging in color from yellow to gold.

Those seeking the elusive and rare Apache trout must venture to Arizona’s high-altitude lakes and small river systems. Fly fishing for these rare gems is best in Arizona’s Upper Salt River and the West Fork of the Black River, with the largest population found within the confines of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation

Average Length

8 - 15 inches

Average Weight

8 oz - 2 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Apache trout can be found in clear, cool streams and rivers and headwaters of larger rivers above 7,500 feet of elevation. They tend to hold in deep pools, under streamside vegetation and in the protection offered by undercut banks and can tolerate a relatively wide range of temperatures.

Range

The Apache trout is one of only two species of trout native to Arizona, the other being the gila trout. It lives in clear, cool streams in the White Mountains that flow through coniferous forests and marshes but has been introduced into several lakes in the area. Farther west in the state, stocked Apache trout in the Pinaleno Mountains and on Mount Graham, have transitioned to holdover populations. Apache trout are also stocked in the Black River and the Little Colorado River

Artic Char: Although a rare catch for anglers, the Arctic charr (or Arctic char) is one of the most widely distributed of the salmonids. Related to the brook trout and lake trout, which are technically charr, the Arctic charr varies greatly in appearance and coloration throughout the North American, Asian and European drainages where it is found. Fly fishers lucky enough to have hooked Arctic charr know them to be spectacular fighters. They’re known for high-speed runs and acrobatic leaps, much like that of the Atlantic salmon, with sea-run fish being the greatest prize.

Average Length

10 - 24 inches

Average Weight

2 - 4 lbs, heavier for sea-run fish

Temperature Range


Habitat

In freshwater, Arctic charr are found in pools and runs of deep, cold rivers. Due to their northerly location, still waters inhabited by these fish are cold year round. In these waters, Arctic charr will remain close to the surface and may be found at the mouths of tributaries, where warmer water and food will be plentiful.

Range

Arctic charr are the northernmost occurring freshwater fish in the world and are found in polar locations throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

Atlantic Bonito: A prized catch especially in the northeast Atlantic states, the Atlantic bonito is a

keen predator that once hooked, runs like an exotic sports car. The Atlantic bonito is a streamlined fish with a noticeably curved lateral line and six to eight finlets on the back and belly between the anal fin and the tail. The caudal peduncle—the narrow spot that connects the tail to the body—has a lateral keel on either side. The back transitions from blue to green, and the undersides are silvery-white. The most distinguishing characteristic of the Atlantic bonito is the series of dark lines that extend from the fish’s back to just below the lateral line. They feed primarily at or near the surface in large schools that can range from twenty-miles offshore to within casting distance of shore bound anglers and prey on small, schooling fish. They will also eat squid and shrimp, occasionally leaping out of the water when chasing prey.

Average Length

24 inches

Average Weight

2 - 10 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Atlantic bonito are schooling, migratory fish that are often found in shallow, inshore waters. They occur in both brackish and saltwater.

Range

The Atlantic bonito ranges throughout much of the ocean that bears its name, from Nova Scotia to Argentina in the western Atlantic and from Norway to South Africa in the eastern Atlantic. In the U.S., the Atlantic bonito is most abundant from New England to New Jersey.

Atlantic Cod: The cod can be distinguished from other members of its family by

the large barbel on the chin and the arch in the lateral line. Like many other members of its family they have three separate dorsal fins and two separate anal fins, none of which contain any spines. The back and sides are highly variable in color (ranging from brownish or sandy to gray, yellow, reddish, greenish, or any combination), and mottled with numerous lighter spots. The belly is white, the lateral line is pale, and all the fins are dark. Largely omnivorous, they feed on herring, sprat, capelin, sand eels, Irish moss, etc. Many unusual items have also been found in the stomachs of adult cod, including oil can, a rubber doll, finger rings, clothing, and some very rare deep sea shells that were previously unknown to science. Most cod taken by anglers are caught by bait fishing on the bottom from a drifting or anchored boat, but many are taken by jigging and deep trolling as well. Cod have large mouths, so hook size may vary, but the bait need not be large—a good sized ocean clam will do for almost any size cod. Other good baits include strip baits of squid, fish, crabs, sand eels, and capelin.

Average Weight

4 15 lb

Record Weight

211 lb 8 oz ( in 1895)

Habitat

The cod can be found in depths of up to 200 fathoms and prefers rough bottoms composed of sand and rock or of shells. It is migratory though the extent of its migration varies among stocks.

Range

Occurs in subarctic and cool temperate waters of the North Atlantic from Greenland to North Carolina, including the Hudson Strait, and from Novaya Zemlya, in the former U.S.S.R., to the northern reaches of the Bay of Biscay, including the Baltic and North seas and Iceland.

Atlantic Halibut: The Atlantic halibut is a ground dwelling flatfish and member of the flounder family, found on sand, gravel or clay bottoms at depths to 500 fathoms in the extreme. It is right-eyed, with its upper surface being a uniformly dark chocolate, olive or slate color, and can be almost black. The underside is pale. It is among the largest flatfishes in the Atlantic with a gaping mouth, sharp, curved teeth and a concave edged tail fin. Though both of its ventral fins are alike, its two pectoral fins are of different shapes, the one on the upper (eyed) side of the fish being obliquely pointed while the fin on the lower side is rounded. Halibut are fast swimmers, unlike other flatfish species.

Average Length

2 - 4 feet

Average Weight

30 - 60 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Juvenile Atlantic halibut are quite localized, being found in apparently well-defined nursery grounds and in coastal areas 66 to 197 feet deep with sandy bottoms. Adults are found over sand, gravel or clay substrates and at depths of 328 to 2300 feet.

Range

The native habitat of the Atlantic halibut is the temperate waters of the northern Atlantic, from Labrador and Greenland to Iceland, the Barents Sea and as far south as the Bay of Biscay. Found as far south as off the coast of Virginia in the United States.

Atlantic Silver Hake: Atlantic silver hake, also known as whiting, Merluccius bilinearis, is a popular whitefish caught in the northeastern U.S., from Maine to Virginia. This fish is very low in contaminants such as mercury and PCBs. The population is well managed, although currently the status is at moderately low levels. The stock is still recovering from persistent overfishing by foreign fleets in the 1960s and 1970s. As a result of fishing pressure, populations of hake are skewed, and there are fewer older fish than there would be in a natural (unfished) population. Hake are most commonly captured with bottom otter trawls, nets that drag along the seafloor, that can damage bottom habitat and remove or cover animals and plant life. This fishing method also can result in the unintended capture of many other types of marine life (bycatch). Although very little research has been done on bycatch levels related to hake fishing, it is believed that certain types of Atlantic groundfish are captured by the trawls, and many of these are already overfished.

Habitat

As nocturnal, semi-pelagic predators, silver hake move up in the water column to feed at night, primarily between dusk and midnight, and return to rest on the bottom during the day, preferring sandy, muddy or pebbly substrate (Collette and Klein-MacPhee eds. 2002).

Range

Silver hake, also known as whiting, Merluccius bilinearis, range primarily from Newfoundland to South Carolina. In U.S. waters, two stocks have been identified based on differences of head and fin lengths (Almeida 1987), otolith morphometrics (Bolles and Begg 2000), otolith growth differences, and seasonal distribution patterns (Lock and Packer 2004). The northern silver hake stock inhabits Gulf of Maine - Northern Georges Bank waters, and the southern silver hake stock inhabits Southern Georges Bank - Middle Atlantic Bight waters.

Atlantic Tripletail: The Atlantic tripletail (or

Tripletail) is given because of the fish's three rounded fins: dorsal, caudal, and anal, all of which are covered in scales. It is a warm-water marine fish typically attracted to floating objects like buoys, channel markers, and floating debris. They are well known for mimicking these objects, floating just beneath the surface with one side exposed. They have a head profile that concaves as the fish ages and a compressed but deep body, with small eyes and a large mouth. Juvenile Atlantic tripletails are colored a mottled yellow, brown, and black with white pectoral fins and a white margin on the caudal fin. Adults are jet black and/or have varied mottled color patterns ranging from dark brown to reddish brown, often with a tint of gray.

Average Length

15 - 35 inches

Average Weight

2 - 15 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Bays, sounds and estuaries during the summer. In the Gulf of Mexico, adults are usually found in open water, but can also be found in passes, inlets, and bays near river mouths.

Range

Atlantic tripletail are found from Massachusetts and Bermuda to Argentina, the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, from Madeira Island to the Gulf of Guinea, the eastern Pacific from Costa Rica to Peru, and the western Pacific from Japan to Fiji and Tuvalu.

Barbel: Description

Derived from the Latin “barba”, barbel, meaning “beard”, is a reference to the two pairs of barbs — a longer pair pointing forwards and slightly down positioned — on both sides of the mouth. They are of the carp family, but the name can also reference catfish. Barbels typically breed in late spring, often migrating upstream before spawning, and feed all year round, but much more vigorously in the summer and autumn.

Average Length

8 cm - 16 cm (20 - 40 in)

Average Weight

7 - 12 oz

Temperature Range

3 - 12 degrees Celsius (37 - 54 deg F)

Habitat

Predominantly a river dwelling fish, they are usually found in gravel and rocky-bottomed slow-flowing waters with high dissolved oxygen content.

Range

Found in Western and Eastern Europe, the Crimea, Russia, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Barramundi: A fish revered by the Aussies in much the same way

American’s revere the magnificent tarpon, the barramundi is a backwater brawler and a prized catch. A notable game fish in inshore and brackish waters, the barramundi has an elongated body and a long, fattened head, resembling that of the more familiar snook. The gill covers are razor sharp and can easily slice through leader material and ill-placed fingers. The barramundi’s dorsal fins are set close together. The tail is rounded and the lateral line is clearly visible. The fish’s flanks are silvery and the back has a greenish gray tint. The pinkish red eyes are one of the barramundi’s most distinctive characteristics.

Average Length

18 - 30 inches

Average Weight

11 - 22 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Found inshore in both brackish and freshwater environments, barramundi are catadromous, meaning they mature in freshwater and move downstream at the onset of the monsoon to spawn in river mouths and saltwater estuaries. They usually stay close to shore in turbid water.

Range

Barramundi can be found in the western Pacific from Australia through southern Papua New Guinea to the Philippines and from southern Japan and China through the eastern coast of India to the Gulf of Arabia.

Black Crappy : Despite their contrasting names, the black crappie and white crappie are very similar in color. While both fish are olive and bronze with dark spots, the spots on the black crappie are arranged in an irregular pattern while those on the white crappie are organized into a series of vertical bands on the fish’s flanks. Both species feature deep bodies and have mouths resembling that of the largemouth bass.

Average Weight

1 - 2 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Black crappie prefer cooler, clearer water than the white crappie, which tends to be found in silty water with lots of suspended material. Found in still backwaters, slow-moving creeks and ponds.

Range

Originally, both the black and white crappie were found in the area west of the Appalachian Mountains north to southern Ontario and south to the Gulf of Mexico. Their natural range extended west to Minnesota, north to South Dakota and south to northeastern Mexico. Today, successful planting has extended the crappie’s range

east to the Atlantic coast and west to include California and portions of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Montana, Colorado, Utah and North Dakota.

Blue Catfish : Considered the largest species of catfish in the United States, blue catfish are opportunistic predators and will eat any species of fish they can catch, along with crayfish, freshwater mussels, frogs and other readily available aquatic food sources. They have barbels (whiskers) around the mouth, a forked tail, and are sometimes very similar to channel catfish. The number of rays in the anal fin is typically 30-35, and coloration is usually slate blue on the back, shading to white on the belly. Generally speaking, they have no other markings, though the version found in the Rio Grande River has dark spots on the back and sides. Their skin is smooth with no scales. These large catfish have also been introduced in a number of reservoirs and rivers, tending to favor deeper water, but will make feeding and spawning forays into relatively shallow water, frequently caught in warmer climates in water as shallow as twelve inches.

Average Length

2 feet

Average Weight

20 - 40 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Blue catfish are found mainly in large river systems and reservoirs, though they do inhabit streams, small rivers and even some natural lakes and ponds. They prefer non-turbid rivers with swift current flows.

Range

They are distributed primarily in the Mississippi River drainage including the Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and Arkansas rivers.

Bluefish: The bluefish has a long, stout and compressed body with a broad, forked tail. The spiny

first dorsal fin is normally folded back in a groove, as are the pectoral fins. Coloration on the back is a grayish blue-green, fading to white on the lower sides and belly. The bluefish’s mouth is large and filled with knife-edged teeth. They should be handled with care due to their powerful jaws and teeth. Bluefish are extremely aggressive, and will often chase bait through the surf zone onto the beach. It’s not unusual for thousands of big bluefish to attack schools of baitfish in mere inches of water, churning the surf like a washing machine. This behavior is referred to as a "bluefish blitz" and is a sight that every angler should witness at least once.

Average Length

15 - 27 inches

Average Weight

3 - 15 lbs

Temperature Range

50 - 84 degrees Fahrenheit (70 degrees is optimal)

Habitat

Bluefish are generally found in bays and sandy bottomed near-shore waters. Migrating fish may be encountered in as much as 200 feet of water. Depending on conditions, such as water temperature and atmospheric pressure, bluefish may be found nearly anywhere in the water column, from just above the bottom to just below the surface.

Range

Bluefish are migratory marine fish and are found worldwide in tropical and temperate seas, except for the eastern shores of the Pacific. In the eastern Atlantic, they’re found from Portugal southward along the African coast to South Africa and thrive in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. In the western Atlantic, bluefish range from Nova Scotia to Bermuda and south to Argentina, although they’re a rare sight from southern Florida through northern South America.

Bonefish: Built for speed, the bonefish is a long, slender cylindrical fish with

silvery flanks, yellow pectoral and pelvic fins and a dark tail fin. It is differentiated from the ladyfish by its down turned, sucker-like mouth and snout-shaped nose—adaptations for feeding on the bottom. Bonefish were one of the first saltwater species to be regularly and successfully pursued with the long rod.

Average Length

12 - 30 inches

Average Weight

2 - 5 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Bonefish prefer reefs, shallows, estuaries, bays, grass flats and other brackish areas. They can often be found “grazing” shallow water flats and feeding in mangrove swamps throughout their range.

Range

The bonefish is found worldwide in subtropical warm seas. In the Pacific, its range includes waters from California to Peru and west to French Polynesia. The Western

Atlantic range stretches from North Carolina to Florida, the Bahamas, the Gulf of Mexico, the Antilles and the rest of the Caribbean to Brazil.

Calico Bass: A fish that prefers structure, vegetation and deeper water, the kelp bass can make for

frustrating angling but the results are well worth the effort. The kelp bass, or calico bass, is characterized by its similarity to the freshwater largemouth bass. Its third and fourth dorsal spines are of equal length, and are approximately twice the length of the second dorsal spine. The upper head of the calico or kelp bass is brownish-olive with yellow spots and the upper back is mottled with characteristic white blotches on a brown background. There are two rows of rectangular white blotches on the back, which easily differentiate it from other members of the bass family.

Average Length

8 - 16 inches

Temperature Range


Habitat

As their name implies, Calico Bass are usually found near kelp beds in water depth to 150 feet, with the fish hanging in the water column at depths no greater than sixty feet. Larger specimens, however, can be found in deeper water. They can also be found around rock jetties, breakwaters and other shallow-water structures.

Range

Kelp bass have ranged historically as far north as the mouth of the Columbia River and south to Baja California, Mexico. They are abundant in southern California waters as well, including the shores of the Channel Islands.

California Corbrina: A skittish and rare fish that devoted anglers insist is more difficult to catch than a permit, the California corbina is a prize few outside its native range have ever heard of. They are very wary and difficult to hook and have an avid following among a small crew of Southern California fly casters. Successful corbina fly patterns are tied to represent sand crabs, bloodworms and other crustaceans. Small flies and relatively small (albeit strong) fish allow the fly caster to use light gear—a seven-weight rod and an appropriate saltwater reel is often all that is needed when pursuing this rare prize.

A member of the croaker family, The California corbina has a long, slightly compressed body and a small mouth. Corbina are gray with an iridescent sheen and undulating diagonal lines on their sides. The corbina has a single barbel (a tactile organ) on its lower jaw and one weak spine at the leading edge of the anal fin.

Average Length

12 - 20 inches

Average Weight

1 - 2 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

The California corbina is a creature of the coastal surf zone. They prefer sandy beaches and shallow bays where they can forage for sand crabs, clams and other crustaceans.

Range

California corbina are found in a relatively limited range from the Gulf of California, Mexico to Point Conception, California.

California Yellowtail: A member of the jack family, the yellowtail can be identified by bright yellow

fins and a deeply forked tail. The yellowtail’s body transitions from purplish blue on the fish’s back to silvery white towards the belly. A dusky yellow stripe runs the length of the flanks from mouth to tail. Anglers have a decent shot at catching yellowtail when they’re packed into schools and feeding on the surface. Yellowtail primarily feed on squid, crabs, anchovies, sardines and mackerel. Large streamers and surface poppers are often effective as anglers can enjoy great sport casting to schools of fifty and more fish. While mid-sized yellowtail are a common catch in the waters of Southern California and Baja, for truly large fish—in the fifty pound range and larger—New Zealand and Australia appear to be the prime spots.

Average Length

32 inches

Average Weight

10 - 20 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Coastal schooling fish, yellowtail are found in inshore water out to the continental shelf. They’re found over reefs and around wharfs and piers, as well as over wrecks and seamounts.

Range

The yellowtail can be found throughout the world’s subtropical waters. They are a common sight off Catalina Island and much of the Southern California coast, as well as in Mexican waters. Distinct yellowtail populations can also be found off South Africa, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. In the Eastern Pacific they can be found in waters off British Columbia and south to Chile. They’re fond of structure and are usually found around offshore islands, rocky reefs and kelp beds

Chinook salmon: The largest member of the salmon family and both the largest and least abundant member of the Pacific salmon genus, the Chinook salmon is blue-green on the back and top of the head with silvery sides and white ventral surfaces. It has black spots on its tail and the upper half of its body. As with all Pacific salmon, the Chinook undergoes a physical transformation during spawning—males develop a hooked jaw or “kype” and their back coloration transitions from bright silver to dark olive, shading to an iridescent red at the flanks.

Average Length

28 - 36 inches

Average Weight

12 - 45 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

In fresh water, Chinook prefer a cool, oxygenated environment free of sediment, which is essential for egg development. Riparian vegetation and woody debris help juvenile salmon by providing cover and maintaining low water temperatures.

Range

In terms of “natural” dispersion, Chinook salmon range from San Francisco Bay, California to north of the Bering Strait in Alaska and into the Arctic waters of Canada and Russia, including the entire Pacific coast in between.

Chum Salmon: Most chum salmon are caught by anglers going after their more appreciated cousins—the Coho and the silver salmon.

While at sea, the chum salmon has a back that’s silvery blue and green shading to pure silver on the sides and belly. When adults return to fresh water and are nearing the spawning phase, they develop purple blotchy streaks near their caudal fins. Spawning males typically grow an elongated kype and have enlarged teeth. Young chum salmon migrate almost immediately after hatching to estuarine and ocean waters. This means that survival and growth in juvenile chum salmon depends less on freshwater conditions than on favorable estuarine and marine conditions. Presently, major spawning populations are found only as far south as Tillamook Bay on the northern Oregon coast.

Average Length

20 - 28 inches

Average Weight

10 - 15 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Chum salmon spawn in the lowermost reaches of rivers and streams, often near springs and typically within sixty miles of the ocean.

Range

Chum salmon have the widest natural geographic and spawning distribution of all Pacific salmon—the range extends farther north along the shores of the Arctic Ocean than that of other Pacific salmon. Spawning populations are found from Korea and Japan into the far north of Russia. Historically, in North America, chum salmon were distributed throughout the coastal regions of western Canada and the United States, as far south as Monterey, California.

European Bass: European bass have elongate

bodies, moderately forked caudal fins and may vary in coloration on their backs from silvery grey to bluish with silvery sides, their bellies sometimes tinged with yellow. Adult bass are not spotted, but their young have some spots on their upper parts. They are small scaled, having opercle with 2 flat spines and preopercle with large, forward-directed spines on its lower margin. They also have two separate dorsal fins: the first with 8 to 10 spines, the second with 1 spine and 12 or 13 soft rays. Their anal fins have 3 spines and 10 to 12 soft rays.

Average Length

20 - 40 inches

Average Weight

20 - 30 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Bass habitats include estuaries, mud flats, lagoons, coastal waters and river mouths in summer, migrating into northern deeper waters during winter.

Range

It can be found stretching from eastern Atlantic Ocean from Norway to Senegal, into the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and around the Canary Islands.

Fish ID Project by

Tameco Piner

Work cited: http://www.fishhound.com/resources/fish-species (ALL INFO)

Flat-Head Catfish

This catfish has a broadly flat head with smooth, scale less skin, whisker-like barbels around the mouth, a projecting lower jaw, and long, sharp spines connected to venomous glands on the dorsal fin. They are typically pale yellow (referred to also as "yellow cats") to light brown on the back and sides, and highly mottled with black and/or brown. The belly is usually pale yellow or cream colored. The tail fin is slightly notched. Young fish may be very dark, almost black in appearance.

Average Length

3 - 5 feet

Average Weight

20 - 50 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Flathead catfish prefer submerged wood cover such as logs and rootwads in deep streams, rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs, where the water is turbid and the currents are slow. At night, they move into shallow waters to feed.

Feeding Habits

Unlike other catfish which are scavengers, flatheads are benthic feeders and prefer live prey such as fish, insects, annelid worms and crustaceans

Giant Trevally: All twenty-five species of trevally have elongated, compressed bodies and deeply

forked caudal fins, with long, sickle shaped pectoral fins. The Giant Trevally (also known as the ulua, ronin jack and “GT”) is the most prized of the species by anglers and is identifiable by an ovoid patch of small scales located on the breast ahead of the ventral fins. Coloration for the Giant Trevally can range from silvery-white to almost jet-black.

Average Length

23 inches - 5 feet

Average Weight

30 - 60 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

The Giant Trevally ranges from estuaries to coral reefs. Juvenile fish are prevalent in estuaries and river systems.

Range

Distribution is widespread. They’re found in the warm tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans as far south as New South Wales in Australia, east to the Hawaiian Islands, west to the eastern islands of Africa and north to Japan.

Golden Dorado: Known for vicious strikes and acrobatic leaps when hooked, the Dorado or “golden

dorado” is a large, freshwater river fish native to South America. Despite sometimes being called a “golden salmon,” the Dorado is not related to true salmon, nor is it related to the saltwater fish of the same name.

Average Length

24 - 32 inches

Average Weight

6 - 20 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

The dorado tends to prefer the fast moving water of rivers, although the fish have been known to move into slower tributary waters and backwater swamps during spawning. In January and February, when the rivers are at full-flood, massive schools of dorado migrate toward the river headwaters, leaping rapids and falls much in the same manner as salmon.

Range

Dorado are found exclusively in South America in the rivers of Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. They have been reported in the Amazon and Orinoco watersheds but in small numbers. For the most part, these brilliant fish should be targeted in their native rivers—particularly the Plate River basin, including the Prana and Paraguay rivers and their many tributaries.

Jacksmelt: The body of the jacksmelt is elongate and somewhat compressed. The head is oblong and the eyes and mouth are small. The color is greenish blue above and silver below with a metallic blue border stripe extending the length of the body. Jacksmelt, topsmelt, and California grunion are members of the silversides family and are not considered true smelt. These three species look very similar except for the location of the first dorsal fin. In the jacksmelt, the first dorsal fin is forward of a line drawn perpendicular to the vent (anus). They are schooling fish, preferring shallow water less than 100 feet and are most common in 5 to 50 foot depths.

Average Length

11 - 15 inches

Average Weight

8 ounces -1.5 pounds

Temperature Range

Unknown; spawning typically at 50 - 54 degrees Fahrenheit

Habitat

Pelagic. They can be found in bays, estuaries and ocean waters throughout the year, preferring turbid waters.

Range

Jacksmelt occur from Santa Maria Bay, Baja California, to Yaquina, Oregon.

King Mackerel: The king mackerel

(Scomberomorus cavalla) is a migratory species of mackerel of the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, important to both commercial and recreational fishing industries. The entire body is covered with very small, hardly visible, loosely attached scales and coloration ranges from olive to an iridescent bluish green on its back fading to silver with a rosy iridescence on the sides, and white on the belly. The first spiny dorsal fin is entirely colorless and is normally folded back into a body groove, as are the pelvic fins. The lateral line starts high on the shoulder, dips abruptly at mid-body and then continues as a wavy horizontal line to the tail. It is similar to the Spanish mackerel.

Average Length

33 - 45 inches

Average Weight

5 - 30 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

King mackerel commonly occur in depths of 40 to 150 feet. Larger kings (heavier than 20 lbs) often occur inshore, in the mouths of inlets and harbors, occasionally found as deep as 600 feet.

Range

The king mackerel is a subtropical species of the Atlantic Coast of the Americas. Common in the coastal zone from North Carolina to Brazil, it occurs as far south as Rio de Janeiro, and occasionally as far north as the Gulf of Maine.

King Mackerel: The king mackerel

(Scomberomorus cavalla) is a migratory species of mackerel of the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, important to both commercial and recreational fishing industries. The entire body is covered with very small, hardly visible, loosely attached scales and coloration ranges from olive to an iridescent bluish green on its back fading to silver with a rosy iridescence on the sides, and white on the belly. The first spiny dorsal fin is entirely colorless and is normally folded back into a body groove, as are the pelvic fins. The lateral line starts high on the shoulder, dips abruptly at mid-body and then continues as a wavy horizontal line to the tail. It is similar to the Spanish mackerel

Average Length

33 - 45 inches

Average Weight

5 - 30 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

King mackerel commonly occur in depths of 40 to 150 feet. Larger kings (heavier than 20 lbs) often occur inshore, in the mouths of inlets and harbors, occasionally found as deep as 600 feet.

Range

The king mackerel is a subtropical species of the Atlantic Coast of the Americas. Common in the coastal zone from North Carolina to Brazil, it occurs as far south as Rio de Janeiro, and occasionally as far north as the Gulf of Maine.

Ladyfish: Although significantly smaller than the silver king, ladyfish are often called a “poor man’s

tarpon” due to their similar appearance as well as their fighting and jumping abilities. Ladyfish have a slim silver body with a blue-green back and small scales. The head is small and pointed and the tail has a deep fork. Anglers landing ladyfish should be mindful of the fact that the species is coated in thick slime. Ladyfish are rarely a target species and are most often taken as a by-catch when going after baby tarpon or bonefish on the flats. Warm-water inshore locales, such as the Florida Keys and Bahamas, are the most likely places to catch a ladyfish.

Average Length

1 - 2 feet

Average Weight

2 - 4 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Ladyfish are inshore species and are found in bays, estuaries, saltwater flats, mangrove swamps and canals.

Range

In the western Atlantic, the ladyfish ranges from Cape Cod and Bermuda to the northern Gulf of Mexico and southern Brazil. It is most common in Florida and the Caribbean. A related

species is found in the eastern Atlantic off West Africa and throughout the Pacific’s inshore waters.

Lake Trout

The second largest of the salmonids and the largest member of the char family, the lake trout shares the same basic shape as other trout, salmon and char. The lake trout’s body is grayish-brown with white spots that extend to the upper fins. Their head is generally larger than that of other char and the tail is deeply forked. Like other char, the lake trout has white leading edges on its lower fins.

Average Length

26 inches

Average Weight

5 - 10 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

As the name implies, the lake trout lives in cool waters of large, deep lakes. In the northern reaches of its range, the lake trout can live in shallow lakes, where the water stays cold throughout the year. In the southern reaches, however, the lake trout will need cold, deep water to survive. Lake trout can also be found in cold, deep rivers and very rarely inhabits brackish water.

Range

Lake trout are found in deep, cool lakes in the uppermost portions of North America. Their range covers countless thousands of square miles. The southern limit of the lake trout’s range dips as low as Montana in the west and New York

Lake Whitefish: Lake whitefish are classified as deep bodied members of the trout and salmon family, characterized by their olive-green to blue back coloration and silvery sides. They have two dorsal fins, one adipose fin, small mouths, rounded snouts and deeply forked tails. They are schooling fish, found at lake depths of up to 200 feet and deeper in summer and a challenging catch for anglers. A small hook baited with a fish egg works well.

The whitefish spawns in early winter in shallow rock or sand bottomed lake waters less than 25 feet deep. Along with other predatory lake species, whitefish eggs are consumed by yellow perch. When hatched, young whitefish are consumed by lake trout, northern pike, burbot and walleye.

Average Length

17 - 22 inches

Average Weight

1 - 4 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

They are found in freshwater lakes where they prefer deep, cool water.

Range

Lake whitefish are found throughout much of Canada and parts of the northern United States, including all of the Great Lakes.

Lemon Shark: This stocky, powerful shark is named for its pale yellow-brown to grey skin, which lacks any distinctive markings. This provides perfect camouflage when swimming over the sandy seafloor in its coastal habitat. It has a flattened head with a short, broad snout, and the second dorsal fin is almost as large as the first. The pelvic fin has weakly concave rear margins and the pectoral fin outer margin is slightly convex and both fins are weakly falcate.

Average Length

6 - 10 feet

Average Weight

200 - 300 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

The lemon shark is commonly found in subtropical shallow water to depths of 300 feet (90 m) and inhabits coral reefs, mangroves, enclosed bays, sounds and river mouths. However, this species will not penetrate deep into freshwater systems. Lemon sharks can be found in oceanic water during migration but tend to stay along the continental and insular shelves.

Range

The lemon shark is found mainly along the subtropical and tropical parts of the western Atlantic, from New Jersey to southern Brazil and in the eastern Atlantic around West Africa. Also found along the Pacific coasts of North and South America from Baja to Ecuador, and around Pacific islands.

Leopard Shark: The leopard shark, sometimes referred to as the cat shark, has a relatively broad and short snout. There are well-developed, triangular flaps of skin in front of the nares. The eyes are large and oval, with a nictitating membrane (a protective third eyelid). The line of the mouth is strongly curved. There are furrows at the corners of the mouth extending onto both jaws, with those on the lower jaw almost long enough to meet at the midline. The prominent rounded dorsal fin of this shark originates over the inner margins of its pectoral fins. The second dorsal fin is pointed and averages about three-quarters the size of the first dorsal fin. The anal fin is diminutive in comparison to the leopard shark's second dorsal fin. The pectoral fins of the leopard shark are rather broad and roughly triangular in shape. The upper lobe of the tail is notched and elongated. The leopard shark is conspicuously covered with dark saddles and splotches. The dorsal surface of the animal varies in coloration from silver to a bronzed gray. The ventral surface of the animal is lighter and sometimes white.

Average Length

50 - 60 inches

Average Weight

11 - 30 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

The leopard shark is most commonly found in sandy or muddy bays and estuaries, swimming over sandy or muddy flats or rock-strewn areas near kelp beds and reefs. They are most common near the coast, in water less than 20 feet, but they may be found as deep as 300 feet.

Range

Leopard sharks have a relatively narrow range, found in the northeastern Pacific Ocean from Oregon to the Gulf of California in Mexico.

Lingcod: The lingcod, Ophidian

elongates, is a fish of the greenling family Hexagrammidae. Their color is variable, usually with dark brown or copper blotches arranged in clusters and/or various shades of grey. Lingcod are extremely aggressive and provide an excellent fight. Once landed, they provide a tasty meal. Starting in October, lingcod migrate to near shore spawning grounds. The males migrate first, and establish nest sites in strong current areas in rock crevices or on ledges. Spawning takes place between December and March, and females leave the nest site immediately after depositing eggs. Males actively defend the nest from predators until the eggs hatch in early March through late April.

Average Length

30 - 40 inches

Average Weight

50 - 70 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

The larvae are pelagic until late May or early June when they settle to the bottom as juveniles, occupying rocky areas at depths of 10 to 100 m (32 to 328 feet). Initially they inhabit eel grass beds, then moving to flat sandy areas that are not typical habitat of older lingcod. They eventually settle in habitats of similar relief and substrate as older lingcod, but remain at shallower depths for several years.

Range

Lingcod are unique to the west coast of North America, with the center of abundance off the coast of British Columbia. Typically found from Kodiak Island in Gulf of Alaska to as far south as Baja California.

Little Tunny: Description

The false albacore, or little tunny, has a robust, torpedo-shaped body built for speedy movement through the water. This fish is steel blue with three to five broken, dark, wavy lines on its back. The belly is white and there are between three and seven dark spots between the pelvic and pectoral fins. Spots below the pectoral fin are dusky. Although not valued for its strong and oily meat, the false albacore is used as bait fish and prized by light tackle saltwater anglers for its willingness to take a fly and the spectacular nature of its runs, which routinely exceed 150 yards. In many locations, including the West Indies, it is marketed fresh, dried, canned, smoked, and frozen.

Average Length

18 - 25 inches

Average Weight

5 - 11 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Regularly found in both inshore and offshore waters, in large fast-swimming schools.

Range

Found worldwide in tropical to temperate waters. In the western Atlantic Ocean, it ranges from Massachusetts south to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea and Bermuda.

Long nose Gar: A nightmare of a fish that has been around for well over 100-million years, the long

nose gar is the most common and widely distributed member of the gar family. The fish is generally cigar shaped, with a snout that tapers to a narrow beak containing rows of large teeth. Extremely tough diamond-shaped scales cover the gar’s body.

Fly fishing for longnose gar is best in warm waters throughout the Midwest and the east coast of the United States. Anglers targeting gar often resort to the use of a “rope fly”—a frayed piece of nylon rope that entangles in the gar’s teeth with or without the use of a hook! Gars are not known as tough fighters. A seven-weight rod is usually all that is needed, even for sizable fish.

Average Length

2 - 3 feet

Average Weight

10 - 15 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Longnose gar prefers warm, shallow, weedy areas and sluggish pools as well as backwaters of slow flowing rivers. They have the ability to tolerate brackish, murky and stagnant environments.

Range

The longnose gar is commonly found in the eastern half of North America, with larger concentrations found on the Atlantic coast. Longnose gar can also be found from Minnesota and the Great Lakes region to Quebec and south to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.

Mahi Mahi: Strong fighters with brilliant, neon-colored flanks, mahi mahi are known for aggressive

strikes, long runs and spectacular leaps.

Mahi mahi have compressed bodies and long dorsal fins extending almost the entire length of their bodies. Their anal fins are sharply concave. They are distinguished by dazzling colors: golden on the sides shading to bright blues and greens on the sides and towards the back. Mature males have prominent vertical foreheads protruding well above the body proper. Females, which run smaller than males, have a rounded head. While the fish are known for brilliant pigmentation while alive, the color quickly fades to a drab olive-gray upon death.

Average Length

18 - 36 inches

Average Weight

15 - 35 pounds

Temperature Range


Habitat

Mahi mahi are a warm water pelagic fish that are found in the open ocean, usually close to the surface. They can occasionally be found in coastal waters near structure. Even in the open ocean, mahi mahi concentrate around floating objects such as buoys, driftwood and seaweed lines.

Range: The mahi mahi is found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian and

Pacific Oceans, with the greatest numbers believed to be in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific. In the

Atlantic, mahi mahi can be found in areas influenced by the warm Gulf Stream and have been found as far north as the Canadian Maritime Provinces and as far south as southern Brazil.

Red Drum: The red drum, or redfish, has an elongated body with a sub-terminal mouth and a blunt

nose. The tail is squared on adults and rounded on juveniles. Unlike the black drum, the redfish lacks chin barbels. Its coloring is coppery red to bronze on the back and silvery white on the sides and belly. The fish is distinguished by a single black dot at the base of the tail. "Drum” references the sound the fish makes when striking an internal muscle against the fish’s swim bladder. This noise is assumed to be associated with locating and attracting other fish for the purposes of mating.

Average Length

28 inches

Average Weight

15 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

The redfish starts out its life in rivers and estuaries, then becomes oceanic as it approaches maturity. Redfish are found on sand, mud and grass bottoms in inlets, shallow bays, tidal passes, bayous and estuaries.

Range

Redfish are found in the western Atlantic from the Gulf of Maine to the Florida Keys, although they are rarely found north of Maryland. They can also be found along the Gulf Coast to northern Mexico.

Redfish (Red Drum): The red drum, or redfish, has an elongated body with a sub-terminal mouth and a blunt nose. The tail is squared on adults and rounded on juveniles. Unlike the black drum, the redfish lacks chin barbels. Its coloring is coppery red to bronze on the back and silvery white on the sides and belly. The fish is distinguished by a single black dot at the base of the tail. "Drum” references the sound the fish makes when striking an internal muscle against the fish’s swim bladder. This noise is assumed to be associated with locating and attracting other fish for the purposes of mating.

Average Length

28 inches

Average Weight

15 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

The redfish starts out its life in rivers and estuaries, then becomes oceanic as it approaches maturity. Redfish are found on sand, mud and grass bottoms in inlets, shallow bays, tidal passes, bayous and estuaries.

Range

Redfish are found in the western Atlantic from the Gulf of Maine to the Florida Keys, although they are rarely found north of Maryland. They can also be found along the Gulf Coast to northern Mexico.

Short finned Eel: Short-finned eels are large, elongate and cylindrical with large mouths that do not extend past the eye. The dorsal, anal and caudal fins are joined, with the dorsal fin commencing just in front of, or level with the anal fin. The color varies from deep olive-green to golden-brown dorsally with a whitish or sometimes silvery-white belly and greenish fins. The short-finned eel has a typical regeneration time of 15 to 30 years for females; males tend to be slower growing and reach a smaller adult size, averaging 35 to 45 centimeters in length and 250 grams in weight. A voracious nocturnal predator, they eat a variety of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and insects.

Average Length

75 - 90 centimeters (female)

Average Weight

1.1 - 1.4 kg (female)

Temperature Range

17 - 31 degrees Celsius (63-88 deg F)

Habitat

This species lives in a variety of habitats including rivers, lakes and swamps, generally with low or no flow. They migrate to sea to spawn.

Range

Short-finned eels are native to lakes, dams and coastal rivers of south-eastern Australia, New Zealand, and much of the South Pacific, including New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island, Tahiti, and Fiji. It is considered rare in South Australia.

Skipjack Tuna: Like other tunas, the skipjack has a fusiform body configuration—a spindle-like shape that is wide in the middle and tapers at both ends. Aft of the dorsal fin are seven to nine finlets with separate rays, which are useful in reducing turbulence and maintaining directional control when the fish swims at high speeds. The caudal peduncle—the narrow spot where the body connects to the tail fin—has three sets of keels that help the fish maintain its position in the water when moving swiftly. Coloration is dark blue or purple, while the belly and lower sides are silvery and have four to six dark broken lines running the length of the body.

Average Length

16 - 30 inches

Average Weight

5 - 15 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Skipjack have a tendency to school based on size and are often found under drifting objects, sometimes schooling with sharks or whales. They remain at the surface during the day, but generally descend to depths of 850 feet at night.

Range

Skipjack are found throughout the tropical waters of the world’s oceans, usually in deep coastal or offshore waters. Additionally, they are present along the coast of Europe and throughout the North Sea but are absent from the Mediterranean Sea and Black Seas.

Snook: A fish that can casually be described as a “saltwater largemouth,” the snook

is an ambush predator easily distinguished by its sloping forehead, protruding lower jaw, prominent lateral line and elongated body. The dorsal surface is a dull gray color with a yellow to green tint and is separated from the ventral surface by a well-defined black lateral line. The pectoral fins, pelvic fins, second dorsal fin and dorsal lobe of the caudal fin are all a bright canary yellow. Some river specimens may be considerably darker in color than Snook found in coastal waters

Average Length

18 - 36 inches

Average Weight

5 - 8 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Warm, shallow coastal environments, grass flats and reefs along the ocean side of shores near tributaries. They tend to prefer fast moving tides and the shelter offered by lagoons, mangrove areas and canals. Due to their need for warm water, snook hole-up under bridges and by power plant outflows, where the temperature is relatively stable during winter.

Range

The common snook ranges from the coastal mid-Atlantic United States to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, with the largest concentration of fish found in coastal Florida. The species is restricted to tropical and subtropical North, Central and South America due to water temperature.

Starry Flounder : The starry

flounder (Platichthys stellatus) is a common flatfish found around the margins of the North Pacific. The distinctive features of the starry flounder include the combination of black and white-to-orange bar on the dorsal and anal fins, as well as the skin covered with scales modified into tiny star-shaped plates or tubercles (thus both the common name and species epithet), resulting in a rough feel. The eyed side is black to dark brown, while the lower side is white or cream-colored.

Although classed as "righteye flounders," individuals may have their eyes on either the right or left side. Along the coasts of Washington, Oregon and California, 50% of all starry flounder are right-eyed and 50% are left-eyed. However, along the Alaskan coast, 70% are right-eyed. In Japan, 100% are left-eyed.

Average Length

12 - 20 inches

Average Weight

20 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Starry flounders are inshore fish, ranging up estuaries well into the freshwater zone, to the first riffles, with young found as much as 120 km inland. In marine environments, they occur as deep as 375 m.

Range

On the western side of the Pacific they occur as far south as Japan and Korea, ranging through the Aleutian Islands, the coast of Alaska, Canada, and down the West Coast of the U.S. as far as the mouth of the Santa Ynez River in Santa Barbara County, California. Most of

the commercial catch of starry flounder comes from the Puget Sound in Washington, as well as the coastal areas of Washington and Oregon. It is the most abundant flatfish in many estuaries north of San Francisco Bay

Striped Marlin: The striped marlin has a long, streamlined body and an upper jaw that extends to a

deadly spear point. It has a dark blue back that is lined with cobalt blue and lavender stripes that transition to a silvery white towards the belly. The striped marlin’s most distinguishing characteristic is the prominent, pointed dorsal fin, which is commonly taller than the fish’s body is deep. The striped marlin remains a prized catch even though it is the most common type of marlin and is considerably smaller than the blue and black marlin.

Average Length

8 - 11 feet

Average Weight

200 - 250 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Striped marlin inhabit warm pelagic waters. They can be found on the surface or mid-depth in the open ocean. Striped marlin are opportunistic feeders that will greedily chow down on whatever is available. For the most part, they eat mackerel, sardines, squid, flying fish and other medium-sized baitfish.

Range

Striped marlin are found in tropical and warm waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, most visibly around the Southern Pacific. On the west coast of the United States, they’re found as far north as Oregon but are most common south of Point Conception, California.

Triggerfish: Triggerfish’s are about 40 species of

often brightly colored fishes of the family Balistidae. While several species from this family are popular in the marine aquarium trade, they are often notoriously ill tempered.

Triggerfish have an oval shaped, highly compressed body. The head is large, terminating in a small but strong-jawed mouth with teeth adapted for crushing shells. The eyes are small, set far back from the mouth, at the top of the head. The anterior dorsal fin is reduced to a set of three spines. The first spine is stout and by far the longest. All three are normally retracted into a groove. The ventral and the posterior dorsal fins are capable of undulating from side to side to provide slow speed movement. The sickle shaped caudal fin is used only to escape predators.

Average Length

Up to 30 inches

Average Weight

Up to 13 lbs

Temperature Range

70 – 82 degrees Fahrenheit

Habitat

Most are found in relatively shallow, coastal habitats, especially at coral reefs, but a few, such as the aptly named oceanic triggerfish (Canthidermis maculata), are pelagic.

Range

Often marked by lines and spots, they inhabit tropical and subtropical oceans throughout the world, with the greatest species richness in the Indo-Pacific.

Wahoo: The wahoo is a member of the mackerel family and one of the fastest fish that swims, attaining speeds of over fifty miles per hour. The wahoo is a long, slender, torpedo-shaped fish with a pointed head and wide forked tail. The back of the fish is dark to brilliant blue, with twenty-five to thirty dusky vertical bands that extend down its bright silver sides. The wahoo’s jaw is lined with small, sharp teeth.

Average Length

3 - 5 feet

Average Weight

10 - 30 pounds

Temperature Range


Habitat

Wahoo are pelagic, migratory fish that form small groups of 2-7 fish rather than large, dense schools. They are often found around offshore banks, seamounts or wrecks. Wahoo feed on small fish such as herring, flying fish, pilchards and immature tuna and mackerel.

Range

Wahoo may be found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans in tropical and sub-tropical waters. Seasonal concentrations can be found off the Pacific coast of

Panama, Costa Rica and Baja during the summer, Grand Cayman in the Atlantic during winter and spring and off the western Bahamas during the spring and fall.

Walleye: The walleye is the largest North American member of the perch family and is closely related to the sauger. A popular freshwater game fish, the walleye is abundant, grows to a relatively large size and is renowned for its delicious, finely textured flesh. It is considered by many to be, behind the Atlantic salmon, Canada’s leading sport fish.

Walleye are largely olive and gold in color. Their dorsal side is olive, grading into a golden hue on the flanks. Five darker saddles that extend to the upper sides break up the olive/gold pattern. The color shades to white on the belly. The mouth is large and outfitted with many sharp teeth.

Average Length

10 - 18 inches

Average Weight

1 - 3 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Walleye rest close to the bottom in clear waters throughout the day and feed from top to bottom at evening and through the night. In murkier water, their preferred habitat, Walleye feed along the bottom throughout the day.

Range

While the walleye’s original range was Canada and north-central sections of the United States, it has since been successfully planted eastward to Atlantic coast drainages from Vermont to South Carolina and westward through most states, save for California

White Atlantic Marlin: White

Marlin (Tetrapturus albidus) are large, elongated fish with a large upper jaw that forms a spear which is round in cross-section. They are dark blue to chocolate-brown in color and are typically smaller than many other billfishes. Although generally considered to be a rare and solitary species relative to other similar fish, white marlins occur in small groups consisting of several individuals. While swimming they commonly display a technique known as "tailing," in which only the dorsal lobe of the caudal fin is visible above the surface of the water. Small aggregations of white marlin may be observed around schools of baitfish.

Average Length

4 - 8 feet

Average Weight

45 - 80 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

The white marlin is pelagic and oceanic, usually found in water over 325 feet (100 m) deep. They migrate according to water temperature and are generally found at high latitudes in the warm season.

Range

Driven by water temperature, it can be spotted throughout the Atlantic and around the Caribbean during spawning season.

White Croaker: Considered a nuisance to some anglers for their ease and abundance in catching, White croaker is the only species of in the genus Genyonemus. Other common names for the fish include Pasadena trout, tom cod, tommy croaker, and little bass.

They are very similar in appearance to the yellowfin croaker; however, the white croaker has an elongate and somewhat compressed body, incandescent brownish to yellowish on the back and becoming silvery below. The white croaker is one of five California croakers that have mouths located under their heads (sub terminal). The head is oblong and bluntly rounded.

Average Length

6 - 11 inches

Average Weight

10 oz - 1 lb

Habitat

White croakers swim in loose schools at or near the bottom of sandy areas in the surf zone or in shallow bays and lagoons. Their preference is for depths of 3 to 30 meters (10 to 100 feet). On rare occasions they are fairly abundant at depths as great as 200 meters (600 feet).

Range

White croakers occur in the Eastern Pacific from Magdalena Bay, Baja California, to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, but are not abundant north of San Francisco.

Yellowfin Tuna: Yellowfin are a true prize among game fish and are the most strikingly colored of the tunas. Their coloration ranges from blue to black along the fish’s back, silver to silvery gold on the flanks and silvery white towards the belly. A band of bright gold or iridescent blue (sometimes both) runs along the upper flank, separating the dark back from the lighter belly area. As the name suggests, the tuna’s fins are bright yellow—the finlets in particular are canary yellow with black margins. The tail fin is distinctly notched in an "M" shape at the center of its fork.

Adult yellowfin are distinguished by a long pectoral fin that is one-third to one-fourth the body length. In large fish, the second dorsal and anal fins may be elongated and bright yellow.

Average Length

40 inches

Average Weight

20 - 120 lbs

Temperature Range


Habitat

Yellowfin are primarily offshore species that roam the world’s oceans and prefer warm currents, such as the Gulf Stream in the western Atlantic. Such currents often bring them close to shore during the warmer months of the summer, which gives small boat anglers a shot at these amazing game fish.

Range

The yellowfin is found throughout the world’s oceans in deep, warm waters. It is migratory and has been known to come close to shore if the current is warm enough. The largest yellowfin are routinely found off the coast of Baja California, where every year fish in the three hundred pound class are boated.

My Fish ID Project - TamecoP

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