NorCal Kayak Anglers

Kayak Fishing Zone => Fishing Pics => Topic started by: bioman on May 02, 2017, 05:19:43 PM

Title: Please ID this fish (no pic) Red-lancet shaped-shallow water eelgrass- tomales
Post by: bioman on May 02, 2017, 05:19:43 PM
While clamming, saw this cool fish, but can't find it in my Pacific Fishes book.  No pic. Approximately 11" long, overall red (like squirrelfish), large eyes, pointed snout (like barracuda) two short white barbells, single dorsal fin extending length of fish and continuous to tail. No separate anal fin, but can't remember if it had continuous fin ray or none. Don't remember seeing any pectoral fin.   Definitely scaled (not eel like).  Habitat.. in 5" of water in eelgrass.. appeared sickly...
I originally thought blenny, but blenny got no scales. Eel pout?  Doesn't look right. Prickleback? No bulldog head... any ideas?
Title: Re: Please ID this fish (no pic) Red-lancet shaped-shallow water eelgrass- tomales
Post by: ljparton on May 02, 2017, 06:02:59 PM
I caught one of those as a kid off of the Lawson's pier... can't remember what the old timers told me it was, though. Curious myself!
Title: Re: Please ID this fish (no pic) Red-lancet shaped-shallow water eelgrass- tomales
Post by: AlexB on May 02, 2017, 06:20:06 PM
Lizardfish maybe? They are sometimes reddish.


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Title: Re: Please ID this fish (no pic) Red-lancet shaped-shallow water eelgrass- tomales
Post by: crash on May 02, 2017, 06:23:32 PM
Sounds like some kind of blenny?  Eel shaped with scales and not a prickleback.
Title: Re: Please ID this fish (no pic) Red-lancet shaped-shallow water eelgrass- tomales
Post by: alien on May 02, 2017, 06:40:11 PM
did it look somthing like this pic  (Lancitfish)
Title: Re: Please ID this fish (no pic) Red-lancet shaped-shallow water eelgrass- tomales
Post by: Rock Hopper on May 02, 2017, 06:45:29 PM
Sounds like a sarcastic fringehead, but they don't have scales.
Title: Re: Please ID this fish (no pic) Red-lancet shaped-shallow water eelgrass- tomales
Post by: BigJim on May 02, 2017, 07:06:53 PM
Like this?

Title: Re: Please ID this fish (no pic) Red-lancet shaped-shallow water eelgrass- tomales
Post by: alien on May 02, 2017, 07:06:59 PM
Sounds like a sarcastic fringehead, but they don't have scales.
Hi Maul,
is this a sarcastic fringehead...
Title: Re: Please ID this fish (no pic) Red-lancet shaped-shallow water eelgrass- tomales
Post by: BigJim on May 02, 2017, 07:18:20 PM
Sounds like a sarcastic fringehead, but they don't have scales.
Hi Maul,
is this a sarcastic fringehead...

Looks like a giant kelpfish?

 :smt006
Title: Re: Please ID this fish (no pic) Red-lancet shaped-shallow water eelgrass- tomales
Post by: Rock Hopper on May 02, 2017, 08:55:30 PM
Yup, kelpfish.

Here's a sarcastic fringehead:
(http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=69990.0;attach=313814;image)
Title: Re: Please ID this fish (no pic) Red-lancet shaped-shallow water eelgrass- tomales
Post by: Tsuri on May 02, 2017, 09:51:17 PM
Like this?
Was also thinking Seņoritas but they don't live in shallow do they?
Title: Re: Please ID this fish (no pic) Red-lancet shaped-shallow water eelgrass- tomales
Post by: bioman on May 03, 2017, 10:59:07 AM
Big Jim, that kelpfish looks closest, and I see they come in red.  I think I would have noticed the two prominent fins under the pectoral (can't remember it having a pectoral fin at all). I don't see a description of barbels on kelpfish, and this critter had two definite white ones, approx 1/2 inch long. Color was squirrel-fish red,not muted reddish brown that I see in most of these kelpfish pics...
No big nasty teeth, and to everyone suggesting blenny or fringehead, it clearly had scales....and no bulldog head.
I'm going to hope to see another some day but this was the first I've seen. Possibly out of its habitat as it was acting a bit sickly in the shallows.  I didn't want to risk my phone in the salt darn it....pics next time.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Title: Re: Please ID this fish (no pic) Red-lancet shaped-shallow water eelgrass- tomales
Post by: Rock Hopper on May 03, 2017, 11:21:22 AM
Kelpfish don't have scales, either.
Title: Re: Please ID this fish (no pic) Red-lancet shaped-shallow water eelgrass- tomales
Post by: bioman on May 03, 2017, 12:45:11 PM
Whoa.. so that thing Jim is holding isn't a kelpfish either? Sure looks like it has scales... well, I keep lookin then...Thanks for education.
Title: Re: Please ID this fish (no pic) Red-lancet shaped-shallow water eelgrass- tomales
Post by: Rock Hopper on May 03, 2017, 02:26:04 PM
Sorry - The picture Alien posted and the picture Jim posted of the fish on the towel are kelpfish. Not sure what the fish is that does have scales from Jim's first pic.
Title: Re: Please ID this fish (no pic) Red-lancet shaped-shallow water eelgrass- tomales
Post by: PISCEAN on May 03, 2017, 02:45:48 PM
Red Brotula maybe?
I've had lings barf them up in Monterey. The ones I've seen weren't nearly this fat and only 8" long or so.
(http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/bottomfish/identification/graphics/brosmophycis_marginata_02.jpg)
Title: Re: Please ID this fish (no pic) Red-lancet shaped-shallow water eelgrass- tomales
Post by: Duckguy on May 03, 2017, 04:48:12 PM
The description sounds like Bob. Probably Bob.