There are NO sheepshead in Pacific Ocean.

Mahigeer

Senior Member
#1

Imagine reading an article in the newly arrived Fish Taco Chronicles magazine about the Ocean Beach pier and seeing this picture!


The sad part is that this is not the first time they have made this mistake.
I was going to tell the publisher which I consider friend at the Bart Hall Show, next year.
However, maybe an email is called for at this time.

I have even seen the same mistake in a fish ID page printed by a reputable company. They never responded to my email.
I have seen it in a book published to teach kids about fishing!
I have seen it in a Baja guide book. She was appreciative with my bringing it to her attention. If I recall correctly.

My theory is that due to name recognition and popularity of Sheepshead Bay on the East coast, it rolls easier from the mouth.

End of rant
 

Mahigeer

Senior Member
#3
I am not mad about the typo, but disappointed that it was not caught and corrected. God knows I am the worst speller and writer.
However, a magazine needs to have editors who look for typos.

I have heard many anglers including seasoned ones mis-pronounce the name.

I have even had someone say, "I can call it whatever I want". My reply was yes you can, but you would be wrong.
 

Ken Jones

Administrator
Staff member
#4
This was actually in a story I sent the magazine. I'm not sure who labeled it (maybe me?) but it was obviously just a typo, I wouldn't worry about it. It's a small problem in comparison to the larger one of actual misidentification of so many fish by the average anger, a problem that often leads to breaking the fish regulations.
 

Mahigeer

Senior Member
#5
I don't lose sleep over it, but in a small way I like to change the habit of Souther California anglers who use the name sheepshead for the wrong fish.

The name in this picture is wrong.
DSCN4436.JPG
 
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#6
I have observed that we in this club are really in the minority on ichthyological identification and punctuation. Most fishermen be like "hey I caught a thrasher shark!" :D

Or yellowfin/yellowtail.

Or 99 other examples.
 

scaryfish

Active Member
#7
I am not mad about the typo, but disappointed that it was not caught and corrected. God knows I am the worst speller and writer.
However, a magazine needs to have editors who look for typos.

I have heard many anglers including seasoned ones mis-pronounce the name.

I have even had someone say, "I can call it whatever I want". My reply was yes you can, but you would be wrong.
Understood, but juxtaposed to the level of inaccuracy that is now acceptable in all forms of "journalism", I do not think that this will even register as a mistake. You pick a difficult hill to fight on, but good luck.
 

Makairaa

Well-Known Member
#9
Kelp/calico bass. White croaker/tomcod/ronkey/sea trout. Halfmoon/blue perch. Chub/greenback mackerel. I just don’t see the point in arguing over common names. Who says who is right? A kelp bass will always be a calico to me.
 
#10
"How do you eat an elephant?" "One bite at a time".

I could ignore individual angler, but I cannot accept the publications from posting wrong information.

We all have learned and trusted publications to be correct. It is the job of the editor to catch mistake (or his staff).

In this case, I am confident that once I bring it to their attention, they will more careful next time.
 
#11
Kelp/calico bass. White croaker/tomcod/ronkey/sea trout. Halfmoon/blue perch. Chub/greenback mackerel. I just don’t see the point in arguing over common names. Who says who is right? A kelp bass will always be a calico to me.
Seems you have missed my point. I am not disputing the commonly used second names.

However, Sheepshead is not an alternative name for Sheephead. They are two extremely different spices of fish. There is


There is a fish in Atlantic Ocean named Sheepshead, but they do not exist in Pacific Ocean.

sheepshead 2.JPG

Sheephead.JPG
 
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Makairaa

Well-Known Member
#13
Seems you have missed my point. I am not disputing the commonly used second names.

However, Sheepshead is not an alternative name for Sheephead. They are two extremely different spices of fish. There is


There is a fish in Atlantic Ocean named Sheepshead, but they do not exist in Pacific Ocean.

View attachment 4152

View attachment 4153
I am very familiar with the difference. I have caught both species. You missed my point. These are common names. Which means they can change in spelling or completely over time and location. Thats why biologists use scientific names. Ask an east coast fisherman what a rockfish is and he will show you a photo of a striped bass. Someone on our coast will show you any number of bottomfish. Ask that same person what a ling is and they will show you a cobia. A west coast fisherman will show you a ling cod.
 
#14
Names can be deceptive. I caught a fish in North Carolina that looked exactly like a California Corbina. The Locals called it a Whiting. Whiting are related to Atlantic Cod. Therefore I thought California Corbinas were related to the Cod Family. They both had a single Barbel under their mouths, separate Dorsal fins. Seemed a no brainer. In California they say a Corbina is related to the Croakers and I said, No they are a shallow water Cod. I was so wrong. It was because the Local name for these Corbina clones was Whiting. They are not a True Whiting, their actual name is Kingfish and they are related to California Corbina, not Cod in any way. now I know…
 
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Makairaa

Well-Known Member
#15
Names can be deceptive. I caught a fish in North Carolina that looked exactly like a California Corbina. The Locals called it a Whiting. Whiting are related to Atlantic Cod. Therefore I thought California Corbinas were related to the Cod Family. They both had a single Barbel under their mouths, separate Dorsal fins. Seemed a no brainer. In California they say a Corbina is related to the Croakers and I said, No they are a shallow water Cod. I was so wrong. It was because the Local Names for these Corbina clones was Whiting. They are not a True Whiting, their actual name is Kingfish and they are related to California Corbina, not Cod in any way. now I know…
And they look exactly like a corbina. Just smaller.