Back on August 24 we had a report of a strange fish being caught from the Venice Pier. Some initially thought it might be a Popeye Catalufa. However, Eli Woohoo responded that he thought it was a Longfinned Bulleye (C. japonicus) a more rare fish and one not recorded in California. He was right!
I sent the original pictures to Milton Love who usually identifies our fish. He sent it on to Ross Robertson an expert on tropical species. Mr. Robertson said he thought the fish was a Longfin Bulleye. In the meantime Milton had done some fin counts and agreed with the I.D.
At the same time we were able to contact Jay Cee who had the fish (frozen) and Milton was able to have the fish transferred to Todd Clardy at LACMNH (the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County). There the fish was put in formalin and was studied.
So today, after the help of Jay Cee, Milton Love, Ross Robertson, and Todd Clardy, we can say that the fish is a Longfin Bulleye, Cookelous japonicus. Cool, a new species for California.
Some final notes (provided by Jay Cee: 1. He said he caught the fish by the pilings near the cleaning station on the Venice Pier.
2. The longfin bulleye is a species found worldwide in tropical waters but there were no documented captures or sightings of the fish north of Alijos Rocks off the tip of Baja California.
3. In Hawaii the fish is called an aweoweo.
4. The japonicus in the scientific name means it was initially discovered in Japan.
I sent the original pictures to Milton Love who usually identifies our fish. He sent it on to Ross Robertson an expert on tropical species. Mr. Robertson said he thought the fish was a Longfin Bulleye. In the meantime Milton had done some fin counts and agreed with the I.D.
At the same time we were able to contact Jay Cee who had the fish (frozen) and Milton was able to have the fish transferred to Todd Clardy at LACMNH (the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County). There the fish was put in formalin and was studied.
So today, after the help of Jay Cee, Milton Love, Ross Robertson, and Todd Clardy, we can say that the fish is a Longfin Bulleye, Cookelous japonicus. Cool, a new species for California.
Some final notes (provided by Jay Cee: 1. He said he caught the fish by the pilings near the cleaning station on the Venice Pier.
2. The longfin bulleye is a species found worldwide in tropical waters but there were no documented captures or sightings of the fish north of Alijos Rocks off the tip of Baja California.
3. In Hawaii the fish is called an aweoweo.
4. The japonicus in the scientific name means it was initially discovered in Japan.