FISH IDENTIFICATION

[stevoblue]

I caught this out at mineral the other day. It had red Eyes and was only about 3 inches long at the most. The photo makes it look alot bigger than it was. I think it was a smallmouth. Can anyone confirm?

[swedefish4life1]

Bull= head or sclupin:-$ !!!! Zero bass:-$ :cyclopsan

[BentRod]

Yup, bullhead. You can find them in most water sources around here. Even up in the mountain streams. Common bottom feeder.

[stevoblue]

Thanks. I released him. So they are part of the lake? No sense in killing it right. Not an invasive fish?

[Blackmouth]

I don't believe they are invasive. Put it this way, they do not take over any part of the food chain. They are in most lakes, and they have a saltwater bullhead/sculpin that are very common bottomfeeders as well. No sense in killing em. Just small little guys who are bottom feeders.

Good luck,
Blackmouth

[swedefish4life1]

I have a fish tank full of them:chef:
they love worms and natural gifts:cheers:

[Gisteppo]

So how can I differentiate between this fish above and a burbot?



We get bullheads here, but they must be bullhead catfish which I'd suppose are a different species.

E

[Hal]

Well sculpin never get much bigger than maybe 6", eelpout or burbot get huge...

[Hal]

Also, that sculpin is one of the best Walleye baits around...If it was "legal".

[Anonymous]

The scuplins, fresh and saltwater, have huge mouths for their size and no wiskers/barbels. The fresh water variety typically doens't reach more than 6" in length and their body has a nice distinct taper to it. Burbot have an eel like body shape and the anal and dorsal fins run half the length of the body and look almost like they merge with the caudal fin. Freshwater sculpins are an important part of the food chain and are eaten by most predators, the muddler minnow fly pattern imitates this fish rather well.

[Gisteppo]

excellent info kids!

E

[curado]

they are a good thing for the lakes and streams. they clean up fish carcases, fish remains, and are a source of food for trout, and other fish species

[big fish lite line]

if they aren't legal I have defiantly never used them for bait:^o

I would like to find a jig that perfectly replicates a bullhead. they are often a main food supply for trout,perch and probably bass.

[returnofthefish]

Speaking of sculpins being a part of the food supply, I saw a group of people catching bullhead sculpins off the 65th st. dock at Green Lake today. The bullheads were only 2-3 inches long. Im not sure how much flesh is left after gutting the fish. Watching them made me go hmmm.

[fishaholictaz]

if they aren't legal I have defiantly never used them for bait:^o

I would like to find a jig that perfectly replicates a bullhead. they are often a main food supply for trout,perch and probably bass.

I am pretty sure they got swim baits looking like them:-"

[curado]

yes they do jigs and swim baits

[Anglinarcher]

if they aren't legal I have defiantly never used them for bait:^o

I would like to find a jig that perfectly replicates a bullhead. they are often a main food supply for trout,perch and probably bass.

Cabelas sells a sculpin rubber bait. On back order for 4 to 6 weeks.

[personfly18]

That's a sculpin.

[hhc1482]

I'm new to the State and never caught sculpin before, until tonight. I was just tossing a lure around in the dark and somehow managed to catch one sucking on the grub jig without the hook, it fell to the ground and not being familiar with the fish, I used a twig and flicked it back into the water. I'm wondering if there's any dangers to hand handling the fish? I know catfish sometimes have poisonous whiskers/barbs, any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[G-Man]

No poison to worry about on a sculpin, the protrusions on the gill plates can sometimes poke/cut you.