Fish Index: October 2010

Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii)

The Cutthroat Trout or Oncorhynchus clarkii is just one of the many species of Trout from the salmon family. This fish is listed as a threatened species due to lose of habitat and introduction of non-native species to its environment in western North America. Despite this the Cutthroat Trout is the state fish of Idaho and Wyoming and is sought after by many anglers especially fly fishermen and women.

Some kinds of Cutthroat Trout are anadromous which means they spend part of their lives in freshwater and part in saltwater. Most of this species though does spend its time in the freshwater with the exception of those on the coastline. There are many different sub species of Cutthroat Trout including Alvord cutthroat trout, Bonneville cutthroat trout, Humboldt cutthroat trout, Lahontan cutthroat trout, Whitehorse Basin cutthroat trout, Paiute cutthroat trout, Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout, Westslope cutthroat trout, Yellowfin cutthroat trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, Colorado River cutthroat trout, Greenback cutthroat trout and Rio Grande cutthroat trout.

Cutthroat Trout can grow to about 20lbs (9 kg) maximum and can grow as long at 40" (102cm). There are a few sub species of Cutthroat Trout so this fish can range greatly in size, coloration and habitat. Some are golden while others are more gray in color. All of them have red, pink or orange marks on the underside of their jaws, this is a sure way to tell if you have caught a Cutthroat Trout. You can check out some amazing footage of Cutthroat Trouts underwater in the video below...

If you have any additional information about the Cutthroat Trout including recipes and fishing tips please leave us a comment below.

White Perch (Morone americana)

The White Perch or Morone americana is a species of freshwater fish that is sometimes referred to as the Silver Perch. Even though this fish is called a perch, it doesn't belong to the same family as the Yellow Perch, and is actually closer to a Bass. This fish is medium sized only growing to about 20" in maximum length and weighing in at nearly 5lbs.

White Perch have large scales and a white underbelly with a gray-green coloration on its back and sides that fades to a silver as you move downward. As you can see in the pictures this fish has a serious dorsal spines so be careful when handling them. They are found in freshwater as well as brackish waters in places like Maine, and other coastal areas.

White Perch are known to eat small Walleye, Yellow Perch, minnows and fish eggs. They can reproduce rather quickly, with the female producing 140,000 eggs in a single spawning session. These eggs will hatch in about a week.

In some places White Perch are loved for their great fight and tasty meat, but other places they are looked upon as a nuisance that destroys other species by their quick breeding and appetite for small fish and eggs. The have been discovered in the Great Lakes and are thought to cause serious troubles for the Walleye population.

If you have any additional information about the White Perch please leave us a comment below...

Pearly Razorfish (Xyrichtys novacula)

The Pearly Razorfish or Xyrichtys novacula is a beautiful species of Razorfish that grows to about 10" (25cm) in length and is found at depths of up to 100 feet (30 meters). These saltwater fish can live up to 8 years old and are found in subtropical regions in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean as well as the Gulf of Mexico.

Pearly Razorfish have a snout that is very blunt along with a pale body with red highlights on its elongated fins. Its head it probably the most interested part of this saltwater fish, it has a gorgeous pattern of vertical lines made of light blue, yellow and orange coloration.

Pearly Razorfish are known to feed on mollusks, shrimp and crabs and are normally found in and around seagrass beds and corals. When this fish is frightened it will often dive head first into the sand to hide from its predator. You can check out a Pearly Razorfish doing just that in the video below...

If you have any additional information about the Pearly Razorfish please leave us a comment below.

Swordspine Snook (Centropomus ensiferus)

The Swordspine Snook or Centropomus ensiferus is a species of Snook that is found inshore in brackish or fresh waters in South Florida in The United States. This species of Snook is the smallest, only growing to about 12" in length and weighing in at about 1 lbs maximum.

Swordspine Snook have a very prominent lateral line that runs all the way down their bodies and into their caudal fin. They get their name from their rather large anal spine that sticks out like a sharp sword. Normally yellowish green in coloration, they have a silver underbelly and have the largest scales of all the species of Snook.

Swordspine Snook will spawn in the summertime and are able to survive in both saltwater and freshwater, but cannot survive in waters below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. They feed on smaller fish and crustaceans. You can check out the Swordspine Snook along with a Lima Catfish in the video below...

If you are fishing for Swordspine Snook you know just how hard they can be to catch. They are known to be rather picky about what bait they go after and are notorious for their powerful fight in relation to their small size. Fishing for Swordspine Snook is often done at night around mangroves, docks and inlets. If you have any additionally information about the Swordspine Snook please leave us a comment below.

Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus)

The Round Goby or Neogobius melanostomus is a freshwater fish that is found in Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie and Superior in the state of Michigan but originated in Europe. This fish has a gray body with blotches of black and brown scattered across it. Round Goby are not very large only growing to about 10 to 25 cm in length. As Round Goby grow they will eat a variety of foods including small fish, eggs, insect larvae, zebra mussels and clams.

These fish are often confused with Sculpins, but can be differentiated by their pelvic fin. The Round Goby has a fused pelvic fin, while Sculpins have a split pelvic fin. Like other Gobies they can reproduce quickly, producing about 5,000 eggs multiple times throughout the summer months. Male Round Goby will guard the nest fanning the eggs to keep them oxygenated and protecting them from potential predators. Their quick reproduction rate combined with the fact that they can survive in brackish and low quality water makes them an invasive species. You can check out a bunch of Round Goby fish attacking a Smallmouth Bass nest in the video below...