CTFishTalk.com: can someone identify this striped little fish? - Connecticut Saltwater Reports ( CT Saltwater Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

lodcomm · Joined: 12 Aug 2012 Posts: 6

Heyya folks,

I often see these little guys swarming around my lobster pot buoys.. Can someone tell me what kind of fish this is.. the image quality isn't that great but I'm sure one of you seasoned vets can clue me in!

thanks!

Link

SaltyVeins · Joined: 09 Jul 2012 Posts: 83

pilot fish?

Michael · Joined: 28 Jan 2012 Posts: 3823 Location: Bridgeport

Just looked up pilot fish on Google images and found it to be what you saw

sonamcobain · Joined: 09 Aug 2012 Posts: 106

i did catch one of those two a month ago at brookyln ny emmons avenue. I was wondering what it was, nor did anyone know. Now i know thats for the info!

ripline · Joined: 26 Feb 2012 Posts: 121 Location: Shelton

Banded rudderfish. They seem to like lobster pot ropes and isolated structure like that. I haven't seen one in a while, pretty cool.

SaltyVeins · Joined: 09 Jul 2012 Posts: 83

Yeah I'd say ripline is right. Look at the diagonal stripe going through the fish's eye.

Michael · Joined: 28 Jan 2012 Posts: 3823 Location: Bridgeport

Looking at the pectoral fins and how narrow it gets at the tail, I'd go with ripline instead of what I originally thought.

jimbojonez · Joined: 04 Feb 2012 Posts: 295 Location: Berlin/Kensington

thought it was a sheepshead... those black pec fins say it's the amberjack. never saw one before, catch it and eat it!!!

lodcomm · Joined: 12 Aug 2012 Posts: 6

Heh.... I looked in the "fishes of new england" chart, and thought a "sheepshead" looked closest to the little guys.. but they were not quite right. I only started seeing them this year!

thanks for all the info guys!

-t

JustinSolak · Joined: 17 Jul 2011 Posts: 245 Location: East Hartford, CT

I was out over the weekend doin some flukin' and sea bassin' and twice i had a small group of those little buggers follow the sea bass up. On a short in about 100 feet of water, which i didn't see (i was informed by the netter) and on a 19 incher in about 60 feet of water. I was so dumbfounded that I forgot it was a hog of a sea bass and let it swim around so I could get a better look at the little striped fish.

I eventually snapped out of it and netted my newfound dinner.

But as far as the lil guys go, I assumed they were sheepshead. I'm headed to Old Lyme for a long weekend, so hopefully I catch one to add to the album of "uncommon species" I got goin, including triggerfish, scad, needlefish... Ok thats it, so you can see why I'm lookin for a new addition Laughing

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ripline · Joined: 26 Feb 2012 Posts: 121 Location: Shelton

Guys, try fishbase.org to help id fish. It really is a great resource.

Banded Rudderfish

Sheepshead

Though I think they are close, the diagonal stripe on the head, as SaltyVeins stated, is the most obvious difference. Pretty cool little fella regardless.

lodcomm · Joined: 12 Aug 2012 Posts: 6

Thanks again ripline - and thanks for the heads up on fishbase.

It's pretty slick seeing those rudderfish!

-todd