Freshwater Fishes of Connecticut
Page 5 of 8
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Typically the most abundant fish species in larger rivers, the spottail shiner is a very important forage fish.
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The burbot is the only completely freshwater member of the cod family. Little is known of its life history in Connecticut.
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This is the largest killifish species in Connecticut and the least tolerant of fresh water.
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The chain pickerel is Connecticut’s largest native freshwater predatory fish. Before the introduction of bass, it was the top predator in the state’s lakes and ponds.
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In 2003, the American shad was designated Connecticut’s “State Fish.”
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Both marine and freshwater killifishes are distributed throughout Central and Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Yucatan, including Cuba and Bermuda.
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Learn all about common carp, one of Connecticut's biggest and hardest fighting fish!
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Warmouths can be distinguished from other sunfishes by feeling for the patch of small teeth on the tongue.
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Apparently during Colonial times, “hogchokers” fed to pigs proved difficult to swallow.
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Striped mullet support important commercial fisheries in Southern states. Smaller fish are sold as bait.
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Four native stickleback species are found predominantly in marine and sometimes fresh waters of Connecticut. The males build and guard nests made out of aquatic vegetation, and they become darker and/or more brightly colored during the spawning season.
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Sometimes known as “frostfish.” For unclear reasons, Atlantic tomcod have recently experienced a precipitous decline in Connecticut and throughout much of their range.
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Learn more about this endangered, maybe native, and definitely not parasitic fish!
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The American eel is commonly used for bait and food, but is declining throughout much of its range.
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Sunfishes and Freshwater Basses
There are eleven sunfish species in Connecticut, only three of which are native.