2016 - Species List

One of the most satisfying aspects of fishing is the pursuit of different species.  My goal is to catch as many species as I can in one year.  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 2016.  It includes nine new species.  One of these, a young 22 inch Halibut was caught locally while Haddock fishing on Stellwagen Bank.  Another, the Green Band Wrasse was caught in the Virgin Islands. The the rest came from the Azores and include: Axillary Seabream, Black Tail Comber, Ornate Wrasse, White Seabeam, Two Banded Seabream, European Perch, and Northern Pike.

Missing from this year’s list are Winter Flounder, Skate, Black Crappie and Tiger Trout all of which were frustratingly hard to find.  I hope to remedy this in 2017!

All species are listed by a common name followed by the scientific name.  The number indicates how many were caught during the year.

1. Atlantic Mackerel, Scomber scombrus (51)

2. Axillary Seabream Pagellus Acarne (5)

3.Black Sea Bass, Centropristis striata (202) 

4. Black Tail Comber, Serranus atricauda (13)

5. Bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix (15)

6. Blue Runner, Caranx crysos (3)

7. Cod, Gadus morhua (61)

8. Cunner, Tautogolabrus adspersus (47)

9. Cusk, Brosme brosme (1)

10. Fluke, Paralichthys dentatus (14)

11. Green Band Wrasse, Halichoeres bathyphilus (1)

12. Haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus (104)

13. Hake, Urophycis chuss (3)

14. Halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus (1)

15. Menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus (22)

16. Northern Kingfish, Menticirrhus  saxatilis (5)

17. Ornate Wrasse, Thalassoma Pavo (1)

18. Pollock, Pollachius virens (16)

19. Puffer, Sphoeroides maculatus (2)

20. Sculpin, Myoxocephalus scorpius (22)

21. Scup, Stenotomus chysops (123)

22. Sea Raven, Hemitripterus americanus (1)

23. Sea Robin, Prionotus carolinus (22)

24. Smooth Dogfish, Mustelus canis (2)

25. Spiny Dogfish, Squalus acanthias (12)

26. Striped Bass, Morone saxatilis (135)

27. Tautog, Tautoga onitis (5)

28. Two Banded Seabream, Diplodus Vulgaris (6)

29. White Seabeam, Diplodus Sargus (1)

30. Whiting, Merluccius bilinearis (1)

31. Bluegill Sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus (9)

32. Brook Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (6)

33. Brown Trout, Salmo trutta (17)

34. Chain Pickerel, Esox niger (21)

35. European Perch, Perca fluviatilis (2)

36. Largemouth Bass, Micropterus salmoides (47)

37. Northern Pike, Esox lucius (1)

38. Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Lepomis gibbosus (17)

39. Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (29)

40. Smallmouth Bass, Micropterus dolomieu (6)

41. White Perch, Morone americanus (21)

42. Yellow Perch, Perca flavescens (119)