Javascript Disabled Detected

You currently have javascript disabled. Several functions may not work. Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality.

Pennsylvania and New Jersey 2014

Started by Guest_MuskieBait_* , Aug 06 2014 11:51 AM

Reply to this topic

4 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_MuskieBait_*

Guests

Posted 06 August 2014 - 11:51 AM

Michael and I took a long weekend trip to Pennsylvania and New Jersey. I caught 9 new species among the 22 species caught in the 4 days. I also lost a Striped Bass and a Chain Pickerel. Fishing was good overall, but we had many challenges along the way.

You can read about the full trip on the blog.

http://muskiebaitadv...rsey-day-1.html

http://muskiebaitadv...rsey-day-2.html

http://muskiebaitadv...rsey-day-3.html

http://muskiebaitadv...rsey-day-4.html

Here are the 9 new species I caught over the weekend.

Oyster Toadfish (Opsanus tau) - Species #395

Posted Image

Bluespotted Sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus) - Species #396

Posted Image

Banded Sunfish (Enneacanthus obesus) - Species #397

Posted Image

Mud Sunfish (Acantharchus pomotis) - Species #398

Posted Image

Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) - Species #399

Posted Image

American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) - Species #400!

Posted Image

Grey Triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) - Species #401

Posted Image

Dusky Smooth-hound (Mustelus canis) - Species #402

Posted Image

Cutlip Minnow (Exoglossum maxillingua) - Species #403

Posted Image

Other species caught but not photographed...in order of catch:

Mummichog, Atlantic Silverside, Bluefish, Northern Puffer, Summer Flounder, Cunner, Black Sea Bass, Bluegill Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Green Sunfish, Spotfin Shiner, Smallmouth Bass and River Chub.

#2 Isaac Szabo

NANFA Member

Marble Falls, AR

Posted 06 August 2014 - 02:59 PM

Looks like it was a good trip. You caught some very cool fish.

#3 Guest_Kanus_*

Guests

Posted 07 August 2014 - 07:38 AM

Very nice! I'd love to get to catch some fish up there sometime.

Don't mean to be a negative nancy, or a frustrating frank, or a bubble-bursting billy, but that photo of a banded sunfish is actually a female bluespotted. They and the juveniles often have banding on the back and confuse people all the time. A banded would have a larger mouth, different cheek pattern, and from what I have seen, even females are pretty strongly patterned with reflective blue/green flecks on their sides.

#4 Guest_MuskieBait_*

Guests

Posted 07 August 2014 - 09:49 AM

Thanks Kanus. I know exactly what you are talking about because saw patterns as you have described. Looking at more pictures now, I can see that the Banded has those blue/green flecks on both side of the dark bands. I distinctly remember catching some of them.

No worries...I'll be back at the end of August in that area to try for the Blackbanded again...and hope to catch some Bluespotted and Banded for better pictures (and more positive ID) when I have a new (scratch free) micro tank for photography.

Edited by MuskieBait, 07 August 2014 - 09:51 AM.

#5 Guest_gerald_*

Guests

Posted 07 August 2014 - 01:53 PM

There's a public lake near Toms River NJ (cant recall the name) that has all three Enneacanthus species plus mud sunfish, several Lepomis, Erimyzon, etc. Always nice to catch em both together for comparison - the differences are much more obvious with fresh specimens than preserved ones. There's quite a few bluespotted sunfish like that one (with bands) sitting in museum jars that are mis-identified as banded sunfish.