'nother minner

If the two pics are of different fish, I'd suggest that #1 could be a blue, but the angle in that photo is just enough off to eliminate a positive ID... I'd lean towards it being Cyprinella callistia, though. But, if the two photos are of the same fish, it's definitely Cyprinella callistia (despite the prominent stripe in the first photo...). The head and body on photo 2 are the wrong shape for C. caerulea -- body too rounded in cx, head too short and blunt; both the mouth shape/orientation/position and that two-tone caudal spot (lighter on front 1/2, darker on back 1/2) are diagnostic.

Be careful out there-- if there's any doubt of the ID, I'd be hesitant to even drop it in a photo tank. Better to err on the side of caution than to wind up in deep trouble with USFWS.

Dave

Or Matt Ashton in post #7 ...I kid, I kid...

But seriously, Dave is right by erring on the side of caution; that is one area where I look and don't touch. I was THAT hesitant with a blanket TN State and federal permits when I had no intentions but being there, seeing, snapping a few underwater photo's, and taking some notes.

Or Matt Ashton in post #7 ...I kid, I kid...

But seriously, Dave is right by erring on the side of caution; that is one area where I look and don't touch. I was THAT hesitant with a blanket TN State and federal permits when I had no intentions but being there, seeing, snapping a few underwater photo's, and taking some notes.

Ok thanks. Might just go fishing next time instead of netting.

Here is a link to some pics of the site:

http://bluecrayfish....c.php?f=5&t=539

Man, that is a beautiful site!

Todd

Nice! Did you happen to take any pictures of the salamanders?

Todd, yes, it was very beautiful. Some of the tributaries were equally(and some even more) beautiful as the main river. I'm going back this summer, but this time I think I'm just going fishing to avoid running into any endangered species.


Newt, no, I didn't have the camera with me when I saw the salamander. I think one was a young marbled salamander (about 1 1/2") and the other was a two-lined with her eggs. If I find more when I go back, I'll be sure to get some pictures for you.

Snorkelling won't get anyone riled up

Todd

Snorkelling won't get anyone riled up

Todd

Didn't think about that! Sounds like I'm gonna hafta get a water proof camera!

I also brought a couple species of crays home. One of them is the one I have pictured on that post, the other is Cambarus fasciatus, which is considered endangered, but GA allows them to be taken for bait, so I got a m/f pair for breeding. They're really beautiful. I'll try to get some pics up soon.

If you want a cheap entry into underwater photography, you can get a case for a snapshot-type camera pretty cheap. It's not an ideal setup, but it's definitely the most affordable way to go.

Wait a minute...a crayfish with an extremely narrow range, which has a state threatened (not endangered) status, is legal to collect and posses for use as bait? That not only sounds contradictory but looks contradictory to the regulations on the GA DNR website. So you've explicitly said you're not using them for bait, but your own personal breeding purposes...to do what with? I'm sure people on a certain crayfish forum would LOVE to get a hold of those offspring...

Wait a minute...a crayfish with an extremely narrow range, which has a state threatened (not endangered) status, is legal to collect and posses for use as bait? That not only sounds contradictory but looks contradictory to the regulations on the GA DNR website. So you've explicitly said you're not using them for bait, but your own personal breeding purposes...to do what with? I'm sure people on a certain crayfish forum would LOVE to get a hold of those offspring...

The thing is, they can't cross state lines.

They will be used for bait eventually, when they pass away after a long healthy life.

The thing is, the regulations says "The collection of state protected crayfish species while collecting fishing bait is authorized without permit under the following conditions: not collected from a burrow in any manner, and not exported from the state". It does not say the possession of state protected crayfish species is authorized or the use of state projected crayfish species as fishing bait is authorized. It says the collection of crayfish while collecting fishing bait.

And regardless, you as an avid and eager naturalist should understand the ethics involved. If this were a fish it would violate the core of the NANFA code of ethics.

The Georgia sport fishinig regulations booklet says (on page 12) that that state protected crayfish can be used for fishing bait if not collected from burrows or exported from the state. My guess is that this is because most people don't know how to tell one crayfish from another, and collecting crayfish in GA is popular.

But regardless, Matt is very right. The regulation likely allows it because people are very likely to make an honest mistake. Collecting them intentionally, for any use, without a permit, is very, very unethical.

The Georgia sport fishinig regulations booklet says (on page 12) that that state protected crayfish can be used for fishing bait if not collected from burrows or exported from the state. My guess is that this is because most people don't know how to tell one crayfish from another, and collecting crayfish in GA is popular.

But regardless, Matt is very right. The regulation likely allows it because people are very likely to make an honest mistake. Collecting them intentionally, for any use, without a permit, is very, very unethical.

I did make an honest mistake though, I miss I.D.'d them on site, and thought it was a cray I had been looking for, but then after looking at them again when I got home, they looked different, so I re-identified them. Before I brought them home, I didn't even know there was a Cambarus fasciatus.

Edit:
I'm not saying I'm not in any fault; I made a mistake. I realize I should have made sure I knew what I had before I left the site.

Edited by fishlvr, 01 May 2008 - 08:30 PM.