Fish of New Haven Harbor

Fish of New Haven Harbor

The Fishy Field Trip

Today on our field trip we got to see a man catch a fish. What happened was we were talking to the fishermen when one of their rods started to bend really low. The man next to him said, "You've got a big one!"
Then the fish came close to the surface and we could tell that it was really big. The same man then told us that it's a striped bass. The man who had hooked the fish said to move away, so we did. Then the man started walking over all the fish rods to the end of the pier. The man said, "I'm going to walk him, I don't want to break the line." So he started to pull the fish towards the beginning of the pier where the rocks are. When the man who had hooked the fish had reached the beginning of the pier, the other man pulled the fish onto the rocks and carried it to the end of the pier so they could measure it. The measured the fish, and it was 33 inches long!

There are milllions of species thriving in the care of the New Haven Harbor. Skates and windowpane flounder are among the more abundant creatures living there.

Striper

The Striped Bass a powerful fish, found in New Haven Harbor. It can grow over 6 feet and the largest recorded was 125 pounds. The smaller ones around 10 and 15 pounds school in large numbers. The larger ones are found alone or in a small school. They spawn every spring going up stream to brackish and fresh water to lay its eggs. A 3 pounder was reported to hold 14,000 eggs when a 75 pounder can hold about 10,000,000 eggs. The eggs hatch in about 48 hours and the eggs need a temperature of 64 degrees. The Striped Bass likes to eat fish, shellfish, crustaceans, and sea worms.

Weak Fish

In recent year the big ones have became rare. This species come to the inner shore in spring to spawn. The eggs float on top of the water. In the fall the Weak Fish leaves the Harbor. The male makes a drumming sound by vibrating his thick muscles in the stomach wall. The Weak Fish finds it's food on the bottom and top of the water. They eat shellfish , crustaceans, and small fish. The Weak Fish is dark gray and has a blue glitter on it with with lots of dark spots on its sides. It can weigh up to 16 pounds.

Bluefish

The Bluefish is found in the New Haven Harbor.It is green that looks like the sea and a little silver. Bluefish can be found off shore and inshore. Younger ones migrate Southward along the coast in mid-autumn. Adult Bluefish usually come to New Haven Harbor in May.

Sea Robin

It is found in New Haven Harbor. The Sea Robin is reddish brown and sometimes grey on top. It swims at depths of 250 feet and more. It looks pretty scarey!

Skate

Skates' eggs can be found along the shore. A nickname for the case in which they are contained and protected is the more common term, a mermaids purse. A grown skate is usually about two feet long and swims by flapping its sides like the wings of a bird. This is a very oddly shaped fish, with eyes at the end of its head where its body narrows down into a small oval. Even though this creature is quite abundant, it is still a rare treat to find one out on the beach.

Eel

Eels can grow up to two feet long! They will eventually leave Long Island Sound and make a great journey to the Sargasso Sea to spawn.

Cod

Lumpfish

Yes, the lumpfish really is lumpy!

Ocean Pout

Summer Flounder

Flounders live all year round in Long Island Sound. Fishermen must obey a 12 inch minimum size limit and anglers are limited to 10 flounders per day.

Winter Flounder

Flounders are carnivores. Their eyes are both on one side of their head. They can change colors. They eat shrimp, amphipods, seaworms, and crabs. They can readily change their color and pattern to match the ocean floor.

Atlantic Wolfish

The wolffish, Anarhichas lupus, is a cold water species. of relatively minor importance in Gulf of Maine fisheries. Wolffish are sedentary and rather solitary in habit, and populations tend to be localized. Little is known about the biology of this species. Individuals may attain lengths of 150 cm (59 in.) and weights of 18 kg (40 lb). They prey heavily on shellfish.

Sea Raven

Oyster Toadfish

Tautog

Tautog or Blackfish? Well? Actually, they are both the same fish. The stout fish likes to live near rocky shores and mussel beds. It has thick lips which can kiss really well! (Just kidding!) It is a dark fish with even darker blotches. Its strong jaws can crush crab shells and shellfish. When winter comes, the Tautog just moves to deeper waters.

Porgie

Sea Bass

	*`Striper`* The Striped Bass a powerful fish, found in New Haven Harbor. It can grow over 6 feet and the largest recorded was 125 pounds. The smaller ones around 10 and 15 pounds school in large numbers. The larger ones are found alone or in a small school. They spawn every spring going up stream to brackish and fresh water to lay its eggs. A 3 pounder was reported to hold 14,000 eggs when a 75 pounder can hold about 10,000,000 eggs. The eggs hatch in about 48 hours and the eggs need a temperature of 64 degrees. The Striped Bass likes to eat fish, shellfish, crustaceans, and sea worms.
	*`Weak Fish`* In recent year the big ones have became rare. This species come to the inner shore in spring to spawn. The eggs float on top of the water. In the fall the Weak Fish leaves the Harbor. The male makes a drumming sound by vibrating his thick muscles in the stomach wall. The Weak Fish finds it's food on the bottom and top of the water. They eat shellfish , crustaceans, and small fish. The Weak Fish is dark gray and has a blue glitter on it with with lots of dark spots on its sides. It can weigh up to 16 pounds.
	*`Bluefish`* The Bluefish is found in the New Haven Harbor.It is green that looks like the sea and a little silver. Bluefish can be found off shore and inshore. Younger ones migrate Southward along the coast in mid-autumn. Adult Bluefish usually come to New Haven Harbor in May.
	*`Sea Robin`* It is found in New Haven Harbor. The Sea Robin is reddish brown and sometimes grey on top. It swims at depths of 250 feet and more. It looks pretty scarey!
	Skate Skates' eggs can be found along the shore. A nickname for the case in which they are contained and protected is the more common term, a mermaids purse. A grown skate is usually about two feet long and swims by flapping its sides like the wings of a bird. This is a very oddly shaped fish, with eyes at the end of its head where its body narrows down into a small oval. Even though this creature is quite abundant, it is still a rare treat to find one out on the beach.
	Eel Eels can grow up to two feet long! They will eventually leave Long Island Sound and make a great journey to the Sargasso Sea to spawn.
	Cod
	Lumpfish Yes, the lumpfish really is lumpy!
	Ocean Pout
	Summer Flounder Flounders live all year round in Long Island Sound. Fishermen must obey a 12 inch minimum size limit and anglers are limited to 10 flounders per day.
	Winter Flounder Flounders are carnivores. Their eyes are both on one side of their head. They can change colors. They eat shrimp, amphipods, seaworms, and crabs. They can readily change their color and pattern to match the ocean floor.
	Atlantic Wolfish The wolffish, Anarhichas lupus, is a cold water species. of relatively minor importance in Gulf of Maine fisheries. Wolffish are sedentary and rather solitary in habit, and populations tend to be localized. Little is known about the biology of this species. Individuals may attain lengths of 150 cm (59 in.) and weights of 18 kg (40 lb). They prey heavily on shellfish.
	Sea Raven
	Oyster Toadfish
	Tautog Tautog or Blackfish? Well? Actually, they are both the same fish. The stout fish likes to live near rocky shores and mussel beds. It has thick lips which can kiss really well! (Just kidding!) It is a dark fish with even darker blotches. Its strong jaws can crush crab shells and shellfish. When winter comes, the Tautog just moves to deeper waters.
	Porgie
	Sea Bass