Do you know your catch?

One of the most commonly asked questions by anglers, at some point in time, is "What is it?" Knowing what you caught is extremely important for many reasons, including the reason that misidentification can lead to violations of fisheries regulations. This section is meant to guide the angler through 35 of Maine's most commonly encountered saltwater species.

 

 
Also in Saltwater Angling:
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Click on the name of the fish to find:
Common name; illustration; description; where found; similar Gulf of Maine species; remarks; and records.

PARTS OF A FISH

Diagram

1.  Fork length
2.  Total length
3.  Snout
4.  Barbel
5.  Pectoral fin
6.  Ventral fin
7.  Dorsal fin
8.  Pelvic fin
9.  Anal fin

10.  Tail (caudal) fin
11.  Adipose fin
12.  Caudal keel
13.  Caudal peduncle
14.  Upper lobe of tail fin
15.  Gill cover
16.  Midline
17.  Lateral line
18.  Finlets

Diagram
Alewife
Black sea bass
Blue shark
Blueback herring
Bluefin tuna
Bluefish
Brown trout
Cod
Cusk
Cunner
Dogfish
Goosefish
Haddock
Hake
Halibut
Herring
Mackerel
Mako shark
Menhaden
Ocean pout
Pollock
Porbeagle shark
Redfish
Salmon
Sculpin
Sea raven
Shad
Skate
Smelt
Striped bass
Sturgeon
Tautog
Thresher shark
Winter flounder
Wolffish


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