Sumac Creek, North Georgia Apr 25 2009
#1 Guest_khudgins_*
Posted 27 April 2009 - 05:18 PM
The creek water was warmer that I expected, probably mid 60's, with about 10" of visibility. Much deeper and it was murky, from silt. Representative fish were photographed and released, with no harm to anyone involved. Vegetation was mainly eelgrass in the creek, with the far bank wooded with overhanging tree shade and a deeply undercut bank. Near side was gently sloped, with one section showing a large exposed sandbar that's likely only covered in flood conditions. Stream bottom varied from small cobble to soft silt, with silt bearing a lot of organics supporting some thick slime algae, likely from a very small creek coming from the city park.
The creek is well-used by the public, lots of fishing line left in the creek from locals, but very little trash, so it seems it's at least cleaned up well. There were a few people there, most were interested in what we were doing, and the fishermen tolerated our presence rather well, which was nice.
Fish species we found:
Redbreast sunfish in abundance
Bluegill
Alabama hogsucker Hypentelium etowanum
Unidentified shiner
Numerous small shiners I couldn't catch
I'm sure we missed quite a sampling, there's some things a dipnet and cast net just aren't meant to catch.
Extra credit:
Softshell turtle of some kind, very small
Salamander too small to photograph, less than 1"
Photos:
#3
Posted 28 April 2009 - 03:57 PM
Nice post kh... I sure would like to see the dorsal fin extended on this guy... I have no books to look at right here, but that could be a creek chub... we could have really got into some more fish with a seine for sure...
Those first two sunfish sure look different from each other to me... lot more green in the face of the second one...almost looks dollar/longearish
#4 Guest_Casper Cox_*
Posted 28 April 2009 - 04:05 PM
Underslung mouth, coarse scales, redish caudal and dorsal fin. Yellow pectorials. Skilled algae scrapers.
Ask President Bruce about Rollers.
Creek Chubs have condensing, smaller scales as they move toward the head. And agressive mouths. Mean.
My Sunnie trio guess, tho these guys are small and more difficult to ID, going down would be Redbreast, Longear and Bluegill. I focus on their ear flaps. Operculs?
Hogsucker could be Northern or Bama. Something about convex vs concave on their forehead. Probably gotta feel for that.
Casper
Edited by Casper Cox, 28 April 2009 - 04:14 PM.
#7
Posted 28 April 2009 - 09:26 PM
Me thinks that's a Stoned Roller Michael.
Underslung mouth, coarse scales, redish caudal and dorsal fin. Yellow pectorials. Skilled algae scrapers.
Ask President Bruce about Rollers.
Creek Chubs have condensing, smaller scales as they move toward the head. And agressive mouths. Mean.
I defer to your expertise, and agree with your description of creek chub mouths...
#9 Guest_khudgins_*
Posted 30 April 2009 - 07:43 AM
#12 Guest_smbass_*
Posted 05 May 2009 - 10:46 PM
#13 Guest_khudgins_*
Posted 06 May 2009 - 05:55 PM
Looking closer into it, I see the blue under the eye that indicates punctatus or miniatus. Wasn't aware that was an ID cue until this week. ;P
Is he in breeding colors? I'm not used to seeing them with that much color on their flanks like that.
#16 Guest_Casper Cox_*
Posted 07 May 2009 - 10:30 AM
The little sunnie is not 'mean enough' to be a redbreast. Consider spotted sunfish instead.
I dont see those too often but every once in awhile they turn up in the net. They gotta be bigger for me to ID.
#17 Guest_Dustin_*
Posted 07 May 2009 - 11:24 AM
Looking closer into it, I see the blue under the eye that indicates punctatus or miniatus.
The blue under the eye was what I was looking for as well. It does appear to have its eye pointed down so that could be obscuring it. I buy that it is a totally redspotted sunfish.
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