Southern Flounder

Posted on March 26, 2016 by tspuckler

I did a bit of fishing when visiting South Carolina earlier this month and caught one of these cool creatures. This fish likes to reside on mud, and to a lesser degree, sand bottoms in relatively shallow water. Southern Flounders commonly enter fresh water and have been found 100 miles up rivers.

The body is very compressed laterally and right side is white and eyeless. The left side has both eyes and is olive brown in color with dark and white spots.

Flounders are known for their unique and spectacular transformation from a normal-looking fish with an eye on each side of the head to both eyes on the same side of the head. Movement of the right eye to the left side of the head begins when the fish is a to ½ inch in length and is complete when the fish is ¾ inch to 1 inch in length. During this time, the left side develops its dark color and the right side turns white.

These fish are well adapted for ambushing quick-moving prey such as fish or shrimp. Their flattened shape allows them to become nearly invisible on the bottom. Their brain has large optic lobes to provide them with good vision, and they have large mouths and strong teeth.

Typically Southern Flounder range from 15 to 18 inches, but the fish can grow to as large as 33 inches. It was an awesome experience to meet one of these fish “in person.”

Third Eye Herp
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Central Stoneroller

Posted on December 26, 2015 by tspuckler

After spending a bit of time exploring this creek, a caught a cool fish. The common name for this fish, “central stoneroller,” comes from the behavior of the male excavating a nest by moving gravel with its nose.

These are moderately stout, brownish colored minnows with small eyes and short, rounded fins. The snout is bluntly rounded and projects beyond their nearly horizontal mouth. Their mouth is white.

The Central Stoneroller is found throughout Ohio in moderate to high gradient streams with sand to gravel bottoms. They prefer riffle areas where riffles and pools alternate in rapid succession. Adults range in length from 3 to 5 inches, but they can reach 7 inches and males are generally larger than females.

They feed by scraping algae and and other organic matter from rocks and logs with the spade-like extension of their lower jaw. It is classified as a grazing minnow in its feeding behavior, and large schools of these fish often feed together.

The Central Stoneroller belongs to the Minnow and Carp family of fish. It goes by several other names: Dough Belly, Racehorse Chub, Rotgut Minnow, Steel-backed Chub, Stone Luger, Stoneroller, and Tallow-mouth Minnow.

Third Eye Herp
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Fantail Darter

Posted on September 5, 2015 by tspuckler

Fantail darters have a long, slender body shape with a rounded tail. They have a straight-forward pointing mouth and pointed snout. Unlike some other Ohio darters, they have no bright colors on their body, only shades of brown.

These fish Fantail darters are well distributed throughout Ohio. They are most abundant in medium to small streams in the range of 20-40 feet wide. They are found in slower riffles or pools under flat slabs of rock. I often see them in Chippewa Creek in Brecksville Reservation.

The Darter Family has the second largest number of species of freshwater fishes in North America (only the minnow family has more species). Currently there are about 165 species of darters known and all reside in North America.

Fantail Darters are rather tolerant of pollution and turbid muddy waters and are usually the last darter species to disappear from badly polluted streams. Depending on the size of the specific darter, they can eat anything from tiny insects to larger insects and larva.

Darters usually rest on the bottom. When disturbed, they dart away quickly to a hiding place, which accounts for their common name.

Third Eye Herp
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Northern Pike

Posted on June 20, 2015 by tspuckler

I went fishing with my brother-in-law at a small lake not far from my house and he landed this incredible fish. This fish gets its name from its resemblance to the pole-weapon known as the pike (from the Middle English word for “pointed”).

Northern Pike average 18-20 inches in length. They can be identified by their single dorsal fin and light-colored spots along their dark body. They are found in a variety of freshwater habitats, from cold deep lakes, to warm shallow ponds, to muddy rivers. They have a broad range of tolerances for water temperature, clarity and oxygen content.

These are aggressive, solitary fish. They typically lurk, relying on camoflauge and are able to attack quickly. Their eyes are highly movable and are able to see in practically any direction. They are “sit and predators” that usually hide in some type of cover, cocked in an “S” position and ready to strike.

Northern Pike are equipped with sharp teeth and have very complex skull and jaw structures, enabling them feed on smaller fish, frogs, crayfish, small mammals and birds. These fish are top predators in the systems they inhabit and it was very cool to encounter one in the wild.

Third Eye Herp
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River Chub

Posted on January 5, 2015 by tspuckler

While exploring this waterway, I saw a few decent-sized torpedo-like fish. I decided to investigate further and catch one. It turned out to be a River Chub. The River Chub is the largest of Ohio’s minnows, occasionally attaining lengths of 12 inches. They are sometimes caught by fisherman.

Living in rivers and streams, they prefer large amounts of gravel and cobble. These fish are often found hiding around boulders, submerged logs and other structures on riffles and runs.

These fish deposit eggs on gravel where they construct large circular nests. The nests are occasionally four feet long and are often used for egglaying by other species of fish as well. Male River Chubs can move up to 200 pounds of stones to build the nest.

River Chub are good indicators of water quality, because of their intolerance of pollution and siltation.

Third Eye Herp
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Stonecat Madtom

Posted on July 13, 2014 by tspuckler

The Stonecat Madtom is the largest species in the group of catfishes known as madtoms. They are the most common of six species of madtoms found in Ohio.

They are primarily a species found in medium to large rivers in areas with moderately fast current and large boulders and slabs. The Stonecat received its name because of its tendency to hide beneath flat rocks.

They spend the day hidden and come out at night to feed. At night, stonecats emerge to feed on the many aquatic insects and crayfishes that also occupy these habitats.

Their flattened body allows them to wriggle beneath large, flat rocks to hide or to seek out food. Stonecats, like the other members of the catfish family, have barbels (whiskers) that are used to help them locate food.

Stonecat Madtoms serve as indicators of water quality. They are not present in highly polluted areas or areas with a large amount of siltation. Therefore they are a very valuable “indicator” species to humans.

For some unknown reason, these fish are also good indicators of Smallmouth Bass populations. It seems if there is a good population of Stonecat Madtoms in the area, there will also be a good number of Smallmouth Bass, which was definitely the case on this outing.

Third Eye Herp
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Bluegill

Posted on June 8, 2014 by tspuckler

Bluegill are an important and abundant sport fish in the United States. They are also one of the most common species in Ohio and can be found in almost every body of water throughout the state.

They are most abundant in clear lakes and ponds that have some rooted aquatic vegetation. They usually hide around and inside old tree stumps and other underwater structures.

They can grow up to 12 inches long, though they are usually about half this size. They can have beautiful coloring, with deep blue and purple on the face and gill flap, dark olive-colored bands down their sides, and a fiery orange to yellow belly. It is the most common member of the Sunfish Family has a distinctive black spot behind the gills.

Like other sunfish, Bluegill have very deep and highly compressed bodies. The name “bluegill” comes from the iridescent blue and purple region on their cheeks and gill covers.

Bluegill eat just about any little animal that will fit into their small mouths, especially aquatic insects and land insects that fall into the water. They are important aquatic predators in the streams and ponds they occupy. In turn they provide food for larger fish.

Not only does it play a critical role in the freshwater environment it inhabits, this common creature also is an example of the beauty in nature that is all around us, yet very often overlooked.

Third Eye Herp
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Fathead Minnow

Posted on February 27, 2014 by tspuckler

The Fathead Minnow has natural geographic range extends throughout much of North America, from central Canada south along the Rockies to Texas, and east to Virginia and the northeastern United States. This minnow has also been introduced to many other areas via bait bucket releases.

Though not very “flashy,” being dull olive-grey in appearance, this is a very successful fish. Their tolerance for multiple environmental conditions, characteristics of their life history and their popularity as bait species contribute to their widespread distribution.

The Fathead Minnow is quite tolerant of turbid, low oxygen water and can most commonly be found in small lakes, ponds and wetlands. They can also be found in larger lakes, streams and other habitats as well.

The golden (xanthic) strain is known as the “Rosy Red” and is a very common feeder fish sold in the United States. This color version of the fish is also sold in the pet trade.

Now only is this well-known to fishermen and aquarists, but to science the Fathead Minnow famous for producing Schreckstoff, which is a distress signal. The alarm substance is released when the fish is injured by a predator and can be detected by other Fathead Minnows, which then hide or dash away.

And if all that wasn’t enough, this species is also important as a biological model in aquatic toxicology studies. Because of its relative hardiness and large number of offspring produced, EPA guidelines outline its use for the evaluation toxicity of aquatic environments. It has been the most widely utilized North American model for ecotoxicology since the mid-twentieth century.

Averaging only 2-3 inches long, the Fathead Minnow is a little fish with a lot going for it.

Third Eye Herp
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Silver Shiner

Posted on December 19, 2013 by tspuckler

The Silver Shiner is a slender minnow with large eyes. Adults average three to four inches. The body is silvery, with some blue or green iridescence. All of the fins are transparent, with no spots or other distinctive markings.

Shiners are schooling fish. They feed, travel and spawn sometimes in very large groups. When feeding, the “dimpling” they create may look like raindrops on the water.

They can often be seen jumping out of the water to capture flying insects at the tail end of deep swift riffles in moderate-sized, clear creeks.

This fish can be found in large streams and small rivers with clean water flowing over a bed of rocks. They typically avoid muddy bottoms and rooted aquatic vegetation.

The Silver Shiner is considered to be a minnow. Minnows are a huge family of fishes. About 2,100 species are distributed in North America, Eurasia and Africa.

Minnows are important food items for other fish species. They are essential in maintaining healthy aquatic systems. While several species of minnows are used as bait fish, the vast majority of them never even receive a passing glance from most humans.

Third Eye Herp
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Smallmouth Bass

Posted on July 20, 2013 by tspuckler

Smallmouth Bass are native to Ohio and are found in every county of the state. They are known for their acrobatic abilities and putting up a very strong fight when caught on hook and line. I caught this one with a net.

These fish thrive in streams with gravel or rock bottoms with a visible current. They feed primarily on crayfish and other large aquatic invertebrates, but will also feed on small fish and flying insects that fall into the water.

Despite the common name, their mouth is relatively large, with the upper jaw almost reaching the rear margin of the eye. A distinguishing marking is dark bars which radiate back from the eyes.

Smallmouth Bass also have dark, vertical bars which are usually green or gray in color. In Ohio, the average adult size is 9-12 inches – this one still has some growing to do.

Sometimes called a “bronzeback” for its brassy brown hue, the Smallmouth Bass is one of the strongest fish for its weight. The second largest member of the sunfish family, the Smallmouth Bass is only smaller than its cousin, the Largemouth Bass.

When the railroads spread around the country in the second half of the 19th century, so did the smallmouth. It was transported by train and eventually became a popular sport fish throughout the United States.

Third Eye Herp
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Category Archives: Fish – Freshwater

Southern Flounder

Central Stoneroller

Fantail Darter

Northern Pike

River Chub

Stonecat Madtom

Bluegill

Fathead Minnow

Silver Shiner

Smallmouth Bass