Pennsylvania and New Jersey 2014

[MuskieBait]

Michael and I took a long weekend trip to Pennsylvania and New Jersey. I caught 9 new species among the 22 species caught in the 4 days. I also lost a Striped Bass and a Chain Pickerel. Fishing was good overall, but we had many challenges along the way.

As usual, you can read about the trip on the blog.

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-1.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-2.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-3.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-4.html

And here are the 9 new species I caught over the weekend.

Oyster Toadfish (Opsanus tau) - Species #395



Bluespotted Sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus) - Species #396



Banded Sunfish (Enneacanthus obesus) - Species #397



Mud Sunfish (Acantharchus pomotis) - Species #398



Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) - Species #399



American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) - Species #400!



Grey Triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) - Species #401



Dusky Smooth-hound (Mustelus canis) - Species #402



Cutlip Minnow (Exoglossum maxillingua) - Species #403

[OldTimer]

Interesting fish in the pics.

Nice cat.

What were the other 13 species caught?

[MuskieBait]

Mummichog, Atlantic Silverside, Bluefish, Northern Puffer, Summer Flounder, Cunner, Black Sea Bass, Bluegill Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Green Sunfish, Spotfin Shiner, Smallmouth Bass and River Chub.

[OldTimer]

Cool.......... quite the list.

Between salt and fresh.............. what was more fun?

[MuskieBait]

I always have a soft spot for the salt...but to be honest, it was pretty boring on this trip...for me at least. It was a lot of Summer Flounder in one spot, and then Snapper Blues everywhere we go...and Black Sea Bass filling in the rest. Variety was much lower than I had expected...so it was less fun. I guess I'm used to the tropical saltwater scene where the next cast could very likely be another new species.

I loved the whole day of freshwater fishing...the micro sunfishes were super cool...and to be able to catch such difficult species (not just one, but all of them) with ease...plus fishing their unique habitat....then to top it off with the Flathead Catfish and the American Eel...that was memorable.

If the saltwater had more variety (well, it had variety...just that I caught most of that variety already), it would be saltwater hands down. But, there were few new species for me to pick at this whole trip...and of course the searobin didn't want anything to do with me. I'll be sour over it until I can finally catch some...

[Eli]

OK LET'S DO IT.

The eyes on the smooth-hound shark are unreal.

Let's see Michael's pics!

[MuskieBait]

10-4. Let's do it!

I'll ask the NANFA guys about the Blackbanded Sunfish...hopefully they'll reply and let me know where to find those Blackbanded.

There is another bog near the lake that hase Blackbanded and Banded, but the bog also has Bluegill...so it may not be the best place to fish. But the bog has Swamp Darter.

[Randy]

Lots of species and nice pictures as usual
Whenever I think I'm aware of most of the existing species of sunfish, I end up finding out about new ones.

[MuskieBait]

There are many members in the sunfish family:

http://www.fishbase.org/identification/s...nes=&fins=

[MichaelAngelo]

(08-06-2014 07:16 PM)Eli Wrote:  Let's see Michael's pics!

Ken's really outdone himself on the photography. My pictures are nothing in comparison!