2015 Species List

The most satisfying aspect of fishing for me is the pursuit of different species.  My goal is to catch as many species in one year as I possibly can.  Some days I set out out specifically to catch as many species as I can in one day.  This approach is similar to the activities of birdwatchers.  My birdwatching past is what inspired me to take a species diversification approach to fishing.

Here's the list for 2015.  It's longer than last year thanks to a vacation in Belize. New species for the year caught in local Cape Cod waters include: Blue Runner, Chub Mackerel, and Windowpane Flounder.  The new species caught in Belize include: Blue Striped Grunt, Sailor's Choice, Gray Snapper, Mahogany Snapper, Schoolmaster and Yellow Tail Snapper.  The list includes a total of 40 species, 28 from saltwater and 12 from freshwater.

1. Atlantic Mackerel

2. Black Sea Bass

3. Bluefish

4. Blue Runner

5. Blue Striped Grunt

6. Chub Mackerel

7. Cod

8. Cunner

9. Fluke

10. Gray Snapper

11. Haddock

12. Hickory Shad

13. Mahogany Snapper

14. Menhaden

15. Pollock

16. Sailor’s Choice

17. Schoolmaster

18. Sculpin

19. Scup

20. Sea Robin

21. Winter Skate

22. Smooth Dogfish

23. Spiny Dogfish

24. Striped Bass

25. Tautog

26. Windowpane Flounder

27. Winter Flounder

28. Yellowtail Snapper

29. Black Crappie

30. Bluegill Sunfish

31. Brown Trout

32. Chain Pickerel

33. Fallfish

34. Largemouth Bass

35. Pumpkinseed Sunfish

36. Rainbow Trout

37. Smallmouth Bass

38. Tiger Trout

39. White Perch

40. Yellow Perch