Fish identification

[fishinfool]

I was bottom fishing in the mouth of the Choptank River yesterday and caught a few fish I didn't recognize. Can anyone help? They were small, 6 inches or so, brown, very soft skin, big wide mouth full of small teeth and VERY UGLY. They were biting on crab if that helps. TIA

 

[Mikeinsmd]

Bar dog or Oyster toad

 

[Jameo]

This might help you out some.

 

[aps45819]

Sounds like an oyster toad. Nothing but a head and a tail, mottled brown color. Don't put your fingers in his mouth.

 

[jazz lady]

Bar dog or Oyster toad

I've always called them dogfish. Friends and I were out fishing yesterday and fortunately didn't pull one of those things up - just spot, perch, and flounder.

 

[fishinfool]

Bar dog or Oyster toad

Thanks, the picture sealed it.

 

[General Lee]

I've always called them toadfish?? Nasty things, and yeah don't put your fingers in thier mouths.

 

[Mikeinsmd]

I always use my thumb and break their spine. Not sure why, just something my dad told us to do...lol

 

[aps45819]

I always use my thumb and break their spine. Not sure why, just something my dad told us to do...lol

We used to leave them in the boat all day and later take a knife, run it into their head and then flip them in the water. Was always amazed at how they'd swim off after that.

 

[kwillia]

I always use my thumb and break their spine. Not sure why, just something my dad told us to do...lol

This post has been reported to PETA.

 

[aps45819]

This post has been reported to PETA.

People Eating Tasty Animals?

 

[Mikeinsmd]

This post has been reported to PETA.

....and if a peta zombie shows up, I'll break their spine too.

 

[Mikeinsmd]

We used to leave them in the boat all day and later take a knife, run it into their head and then flip them in the water. Was always amazed at how they'd swim off after that.

We knifed them too. Never seemed to kill em. The snapping the spine did though...LOL

 

[aps45819]

We knifed them too. Never seemed to kill em. The snapping the spine did though...LOL

They made good bait for the crab pots.

 

[pixiegirl]

Are those the things at the Marine Museum that are in the tank with the muscles or oysters or whatever they are that look like they walk around on their bottom fins?

 

[Nanny Pam]

We call them "oyster crackers" because their mouths can break an oyster shell. So never put your fingers in their mouth.

 

[Mikeinsmd]

Are those the things at the Marine Museum that are in the tank with the muscles or oysters or whatever they are that look like they walk around on their bottom fins?

Scroll down/up and look at the pic I posted fool...

 

[pixiegirl]

Scroll down/up and look at the pic I posted fool...

I did fool but I can't tell. The ones at the Marine Museum are only like 2-3 inches but their little info board said they get to about 6 inches. They look similar but I can't tell if it's the same thing.

 

[jazz lady]

I always use my thumb and break their spine. Not sure why, just something my dad told us to do...lol

Maybe because the spines are venomous:

Despite their homely-okay, ugly-appearance, sluggish habit and unpleasant tendency to stiffen their venomous dorsal spines and snap viciously when caught on a hook or in a net, oyster toadfish have other interesting qualities.

http://www.chesapeakebay.net/info/toadfish.cfm

 

[thakidistight]

I was bottom fishing in the mouth of the Choptank River yesterday and caught a few fish I didn't recognize. Can anyone help? They were small, 6 inches or so, brown, very soft skin, big wide mouth full of small teeth and VERY UGLY. They were biting on crab if that helps. TIA

Well you cant be that much of a Fishin Fool if you dont know what a toadfish is......