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| Top - Pollock (aka Coalfish), Bottom - European Pollock County Clare, Ireland May 30, 2018 |
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 2018. A total of sixty three species were caught; twenty six in freshwater and thirty eight in saltwater. One species, Brown Trout, was caught in both fresh and salt water. The list includes two new species, European Ling and European Pollock. Both were caught on a fishing excursion off the West Coast of Ireland. The list also includes quite few species that I haven’t caught in a number of years. Some examples of these are Burbot, Rock Bass, White Sucker, Bonito, Chub Mackerel, and Needlefish to name a few.
All species are listed by one or more common names followed by the scientific name. The number indicates how many were caught during the year. Letters following the number indicate mode of fishing (see key). Also included are the locations where each species was caught in 2018.
Mode Key:
K Kayak
SH Shore
MB Private Motorboat
PB Party Boat
CH Charter Boat
IF Ice Fishing
Saltwater
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| Winter Flounder and Atlantic Mackerel Scorton Creek in Sandwich, MA July 1, 2018 |
Alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus (5) SH
Location(s): Cape Cod Canal
Atlantic Cod, Gadus morhua (7) PB
Location(s): Stellwagen Bank, Northeast of Stellwagen Bank
Atlantic Herring, Clupea harengus (4) MB, SH
Location(s): Cape Cod Bay, Cape Cod Canal
Atlantic Mackerel, Scomber scombrus (122) CH, SH, MB, K, PB
Location(s): Cape Cod Canal, Cape Cod Bay, County Clare Ireland, Scorton Ledge, Coxes Ledge
Black Sea Bass, Centropristis striata (289) K, MB, SH, PB, CH
Location(s): Megansett Harbor North Falmouth MA, Westport MA, Coxes Ledge, Woods Hole MA
Bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix (52) K, SH, MB
Location(s): Popponesset Bay Mashpee MA, Westport MA, Woods Hole MA, Megansett Harbor North Falmouth MA, Dowses Beach Osterville MA, Oregon Beach Cotuit MA
Blue Runner, Caranx crysos (3) K, SH
Location(s): Dowses Beach Osterville MA
Bonito, Sarda sarda (60) SH
Location(s): Cape Cod Canal
Brown Trout (Sea-run), Salmo trutta (13) SH
Location(s): Scorton Creek Sandwich MA
Chub Mackerel, Scomber colias (5) (SH)
Location(s): Cape Cod Canal
Cunner (aka Choggie), Tautogolabrus adspersus (37) PB, SH, MB, PB
Location(s): Coxes Ledge, Cape Cod Canal, High Pine Ledge, Plymouth Bay, Scorton Ledge, Woods Hole
Cusk, Brosme brosme (2) PB
Location(s): Northeast of Stellwagen Bank
European Ling Molva molva (2) CH
Location(s): County Clare Ireland
European Pollock Pollachius pollachius (18) CH
Location(s): County Clare Ireland
Fluke (aka Summer Flounder), Paralichthys dentatus (11) MB, K, SH
Location(s): Westport MA, Megansett Harbor North Falmouth MA, Dowses Beach Osterville MA, Woods Hole MA
Grey Triggerfish, Batistes capriscus (1) MB
Location(s): Westport MA
Haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus (51) PB
Location(s): Stellwagen Bank, Northeast of Stellwagen Bank, Coxes Ledge
Hickory Shad, Alosa mediocris (1) SH
Location(s): Popponesset Bay Mashpee MA
Menhaden (aka Bunker, Pogy), Brevoortia tyrannus (7) SH, K
Location(s): Popponesset Bay Mashpee MA, Cape Cod Canal
Mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus (2) SH
Location(s): Red Brook Mashpee MA
Needlefish, Strongylura marina (2) (SH)
Location(s): Westport River, Menehaunt Beach East Falmouth MA
Northern Kingfish, Menticirrhus saxatilis (2) K
Location(s): Megansett Harbor North Falmouth MA, Old Silver Beach MA
Northern Puffer, Sphoeroides maculatus (2) K
Location(s): Megansett Harbor North Falmouth MA
Northern Sea Robin, Prionotus carolinus (1) K
Location(s): Woods Hole MA
Pinfish, Lagodon rhomboidalis (1) K
Location(s): Megansett Harbor North Falmouth MA
Pollock (aka Coalfish), Pollachius virens (26) PB, MB, K
Location(s): Coxes Ledge, County Clare Ireland, Plymouth Bay, Scorton Ledge Sandwich MA
Red Hake (aka Ling), Urophycis chuss (10) PB
Location(s): Stellwagen Bank, Coxes Ledge
Sculpin, Myoxocephalus scorpius (5) PB, K
Location(s): Stellwagen Bank, High Pine Ledge, Plymouth Bay, Scorton Ledge Sandwich MA
Scup (aka Porgy), Stenotomus chysops (189) K, PB, MB, SH
Location(s): Megansett Harbor North Falmouth MA, Woods Hole MA, Popponesset Bay Mashpee MA, Westport MA, Browns Ledge, Coxes Ledge
Silverside, Menida menida (9) K,SH
Location(s): Bass River Yarmouth MA, Woods Hole MA
Smooth Dogfish, Mustelus canis (1) K, MB
Location(s): Megansett Harbor North Falmouth MA, Westport MA
Spiny Dogfish, Squalus acanthias (9) PB
Location(s): Northeast of Stellwagen Bank, Coxes Ledge
Striped Bass, Morone saxatilis (71) K, SH, MB
Location(s): Popponesset Bay Mashpee MA, Cape Cod Canal, Westport MA, Plymouth Bay, Woods Hole MA
Striped Sea Robin, Prionotus evolans (56) K, SH, MB
Location(s): Megansett Harbor North Falmouth MA, Popponesset Bay Mashpee MA, Westport MA, Cape Cod Bay, Bass River Yarmouth MA, Woods Hole MA
Tautog, Tautoga onitis (5) MB
Location(s): Westport MA
Whiting (aka Silver Hake), Merluccius bilinearis (8) PB
Location(s): Plymouth Bay, Stellwagen Bank
Winter Flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus (5) K, PB
Location(s): Scorton Ledge Sandwich MA, Cape Cod Bay
Freshwater
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| Ice Fishing Tip Up on Scargo Lake in Dennis MA January 9, 2018 |
American Eel, Anguilla rostrata (1) SH
Location(s): Santuit Pond Mashie MA
Black Crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus (1) IF
Location(s): Long Pond Lakeville MA
Bluegill Sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus (33) SH
Location(s): Beaver Pond Franklin MA, Flax Pond Bourne MA, Upper Artichoke Reservior West Newbury MA, Mill Pond West Newbury MA, Oyster River Durham NH, Lamprey River Durham NH, Spectacle Pond Sandwich MA
Bridle Shiner, Notropis bifrenatus (1) SH
Location(s): Oyster River Durham NH
Brook Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (5) IF, SH
Location(s): Hathaway Pond Barnstable MA, Spectacle Pond Sandwich MA
Brown Bullhead, Ameiurus nebulosus (1) SH
Location(s): Santuit Pond Mashie MA
Brown Trout, Salmo trutta (18) SH
Location(s): Pimlico Pond Sandwich MA, Mashpee-Wakeby Pond Mashpee MA, Hamblin Pond Barnstable MA, Aille River County Clare Ireland, Scargo Lake Dennis MA, Spectacle Pond Sandwich MA
Burbot (aka Cusk), Lota lota (5) IF
Location(s): Lake Winnipesaukee NH
Chain Pickerel, Esox niger (33) IF, SH
Location(s): Hoxie Pond Sandwich MA, Santuit Pond Mashpee MA, Long Pond Lakeville MA, Lake Nipennicket Bridgewatewr MA, Beaver Pond Franklin MA, Lake Winnipesaukee NH, Flax Pond Bourne MA
Common Shiner, Luxilus cornutus (4) SH
Location(s): Andrew Brook Newbury NH, Oyster River Durham NH
Creek Chub, Semotilus atromaculatus (3) SH
Location(s): Andrew Brook Newbury NH
Eurasian Perch, Perca fluviatilis (9) SH
Location(s): River Fergus Ennis Ireland
Fallfish, Semotilus corporalis (10) IF, SH
Location(s): Lake Winnipesaukee NH, Spicket River Salem NH, Oyster River Durham NH, Andrew Brook Newbury NH
Golden Shiner, Notemigonus crysoleucas (17) K
Location(s): Santuit Pond Mashie Ma
Lake Trout, Salvelinus namaycush (4) IF
Location(s): Lake Winnipesaukee NH
Landlocked Salmon, Salmo salar sebego (2) IF
Location(s): Lake Winnipesaukee NH
Largemouth Bass, Micropterus salmoides (29) IF, SH
Location(s): Long Pond Lakeville MA, Flax Pond Bourne MA, Santuit Pond Mashpee, Spicket River Salem NH, Pimlico Pond Sandwich MA, Isinglass River Barrington NH, Scargo Lake Dennis MA, Hathaway Pond Barnstable MA, Spectacle Pond Sandwich MA
Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Lepomis gibbosus (26) SH
Location(s): Santuit Pond Mashpee, Mashpee-Wakeby Pond Mashpee MA, Pimlico Pond Sandwich MA, Mascoma Lake Enfield NH, Hartshorn Pond Milford NH, Cocheco River Dover NH, Lamprey River Durham NH, Spectacle Pond Sandwich MA
Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (32) IF, SH
Location(s): Spectacle Pond Sandwich MA, Mares Pond Falmouth MA, Johns Pond Mashpee MA, Long Pond Yarmouth MA, Hamblin Pond Barnstable MA, Mashpee-Wakeby Pond Mashpee MA, Pimlico Pond Sandwich MA
Redbreast Sunfish, Lepomis auritus (17) SH
Location(s): Spicket River Salem NH, Mascoma Lake Enfield NH, Isinglass River Barrington NH, Lamprey River Durham NH
Rock Bass, Ambloplites rupestris (1) SH
Location(s): Lake Sunapee NH
Smallmouth Bass, Micropterus dolomieu (11) SH
Location(s): Scargo Lake Dennis MA, Mashpee-Wakeby Pond Mashpee MA, Spectacle Pond Sandwich MA, Mascoma Lake Enfield NH
Tiger Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis X Salmo trutta Hybrid (1) K
Location(s): Hathaway Pond Barnstable MA
White Perch, Morone americanus (17) IF, SH
Location(s): Scargo Lake Dennis MA, Heard Pond Wayland MA, Santuit Pond Mashpee MA, Mashpee-Wakeby Pond Mashpee MA, Johns Pond Mashie MA
White Sucker, Catostomus commersonii (9) SH
Location(s): Mashpee-Wakeby Pond Mashie MA
Yellow Perch, Perca flavescens (183) IF, SH
Location(s): Spectacle Pond Sandwich MA, Santuit Pond Mashpee, Ashumet Pond Falmouth MA, Hathaway Pond Barnstable MA, Long Pond Lakeville MA, Heard Pond Wayland MA, Lake Winnipesaukee NH, Quaboag Pond Brookfield MA, Pimlico Pond Sandwich MA, Flax Pond Bourne MA, Little Cliff Pond Brewster MA, Mascoma Lake Enfield NH, Cocheco River Dover NH
