ID of Fish
- Thread starter Fishman Fishman
- Start date
At first glance I thought Threadfin Shad or Deepbody Thread Herring due to body shape and the large spot but both have a long, elongated soft-ray that extends far out from the back of the dorsal fin; it doesn't appear in these pictures. It might be a Flatiron Herring. I will see what I can find out.
While I was walking on the pier. I some some small bait fish on the pier. My first thought, they were the preserved baits that come in a bag commonly found at Walmart. So I continued on without further thought. Then later, a local fisherman brought these two specimens to me. Maybe related to bait I passed earlier?
I received a note from Milton Love that said the following, "think it is a thread herring, genus Opisthonema. There are two species that they could be - Opisthonema libertate, the deepbody thread herring, or the middling thread herring, Opisthonema medirastre. Both have been taken, on occasion, in southern California, but are much more abundant off Mexico and down further into the tropics. One reason for the tentative id is that threadfins, as the name implies, have a long extension that starts at the rear of the dorsal fin and runs back. While I don't see that thread I suspect it has collapsed down and is stuck on the back."
He also asked if you might still have the fish? He often likes to collect these unusual fish when they show up in local watersl
He also asked if you might still have the fish? He often likes to collect these unusual fish when they show up in local watersl