El Garia wrote:Fabulous post, Zach! As far as fun-factor, and variety of species, I haven't found anything that beats our intertidal zone. It truly is a "box of chocolates". Sculpin Beer and ichthyological oddities… sounds like the perfect day!
I believe that your unidentified goby is a sculpin. What kind, I have no idea. I've been looking through my fish books, but can't identify it. Hopefully Vic can shed some light on your catch (and hopefully share some of his poke-poling experiences, too.)
Thanks for the great post,
Derek
Hey Derek,
Our intertidal zone is amazing. I only recently rekindled by love for fishing (thanks to Jared) and I am so happy to know that we have such species diversity in the City.
You should come out fishing with us one day!
And yup, the "goby" is a sculpin!
VICtort wrote:Hey Zach, that looks like good fun, I spent much of my misspent youth on piers doing similar, and like you, I was often more excited (to the consternation of friends) about something odd or different than large and edible. Like you, I enjoy eating the monkeyfaces, they are quite good and good fun to catch, as El Garia says, poke poling is effective, I am surprised you were able to land one on light conventional gear, as they live in holes/cracks and usually "knot up" under stress, hard to pull out.
I concur with El Garia, looks sculpin to me but I don't have access to my fish key, and some of these obscure sculpins are difficult for even experts to ID, maybe the fringe along the lateral line will help. PM me if you don't solve it, I will try when I get to my books (Miller&Lee).
How confident are you on the Irish Lord ID.? Pretty small one, certainly possible. Maybe someone in the NW will confirm, they are far more common up there. The Monterey Bay Aquarium staff has been responsive to my inquiries, maybe they can help us out? Your photo is quite good (a refreshing change), so there is a chance they will nail it. PM me if needed and I will get you a name, otherwise go to there website and see what you can find. You also have a great resource in your town at the Cal Academy. When you take photos of mystery fish, having the fin rays extended really helps, as does a clear photo of a live, adult fish, lateral view.
Fringeheads are real characters, they inhabit a great many empty bottles on the bottom, and good thing they don't get larger or we would surely be eaten. They are great fun in aquariums if you are ever inclined.
Fun post, you have a real knack for taking common events and animals and making me see them in a new light, and sometimes you are literally in places I adventured decades ago. Thanks for posting this, it made my day.
Vic
Hey Vic,
I am glad you enjoyed my post! I am very new into fishing and appreciate the encouragement.
It was odd that the Prickleback was pulled up on a line and hook. Maybe it was out of its hole at the time? And I agree, poke poling is quite effective for landing them.
Per Jared, the mystery fish was ID's as a Scaly Head Sculpin (a male in breeding colors)- what a gorgeous fish.
In regards to the Irish Lord ID- I had no idea what it was. Jared makes all the ID's when I am out fishing with him. Every fish that I see that is bony and spiky is a sculpin to me haha! I am curious to find out what it is.
Thank you for the insight on how to take proper ID photographs. I will surely keep that in mind.
Fringeheads are amazing. That fish, as well as that now ID'd sculpin, made me consider a small, cold saltwater tank. We are actually targeting the Sarcastic Fringehead, which apparently are amazing to see live!
Zach