The North Carolina coast includes many different type of water. Because there are so many different types of water along the coast, there is also many species of fish that lives in these waters. In any given day, a person fishing along the North Carolina coast may encounter ten different species of fish, each with different appearances and behaviors.
In order to identify these different types of fish, angler must utilize an identification chart for the coasts fish species. The chart groups fish species according to the type of habitat that they prefers to live in. For instance, the chart lists the fish that live in inshore areas of the coast first.
How to Identify Fish on the North Carolina Coast
The inshore fish include species like red drum, spotted seatrout, and southern flounder. Each of these fish species live in the shallow areas of the sounds and grass flats along the coast. However, each of these species have some different physical feature, red drum have a single black spot near their tail, spotted seatrout have a row of black spots along their back, and flounder lie flat on their sides with both of their eyes on one side of their body.
By learning these physical features of the inshore fish species, anglers can more easy identify the fish species before the fish enter the boat. The remaining fish species on the chart include those that live in offshore areas of the North Carolina coast, like the pelagic fish mahi-mahi and wahoo. These species live in the Gulf Stream areas of the coast, and they follow the temperature breaks and floating weed lines that are located miles from the coast.
The body shapes of these fish are designed for fast swimming, with streamlined bodies with forked tails. Additionally, the reef fish, like red snapper and gag grouper live near the reefs along the North Carolina coast. The red snapper and gag grouper has heavy bodies with large mouths, indicating that these fish use their powerful mouths to ambush prey that live near these structures.
The chart also includes information regarding the month during which these different species are commonly seen. For instance, cobia fish are most common in the spring, mahi-mahi are present in the summer months, and flounder fish are present during the fall months when the water temperature along the coast drop. The gear that anglers utilize can be different based off these seasonal fish populations; thus, anglers can use the information in the chart to ensure that they have the proper gear according to the month in which they are fishing along the coast.
The identification section of the chart includes information regarding the size of the fish species and the limits of the fish that may be legal caught. For instance, striped bass and sheepshead have different size limits due to the difference in each of the species and the season during which they are caught. Thus, the identification chart allows anglers to quickly reference the rules regarding each species of fish without having to use a separate fishing regulation booklet.
Other types of fish, such as sharks and rays are categorized separately in the identification chart for different reasons. For instance, many of the shark and ray species are protected species along the North Carolina coast; thus, anglers must recognize these types of fish quickly in order to follow the rules regarding the catch and release of these species. Some of the shark species that live along the coast include sandbar sharks and Atlantic sharpnose sharks.
The body shapes of these two species are different than each other. Additionally, the rays can be more difficult to recognize. However, the chart includes drawings of the head shapes of the different species of rays to help anglers recognize the cownose ray from the stingray.
These identification tips are based upon the physical features of the fish that the eyes of the anglers can see while fishing. For instance, the tail shape, the dorsal fins, and the mouth position of the fish can aid in the recognition of the species. Fish with tall dorsal fins has bills, such as tuna fish, and fish with downturned mouths are likely to be bottom feeders.
Thus, these physical features can allow anglers to recognize the fish species while they are on the water. The regulations for the North Carolina coast and the list of protected species change over time. Some of the species that must be immediately released back into the water include the Atlantic sturgeon and the smalltooth sawfish.
Anglers should recognize these protected species quickly in order to comply with the fishing regulations. Additionally, the goliath grouper is another species of fish that anglers cant harvest from the North Carolina coast. An additional reason for the inclusion of fish in the identification chart is for the suggestion of the types of bait that should be used to catch those species.
For instance, inshore species use live shrimp as bait since the inshore fish species eat shrimp in their natural habitat along the coast. Additionally, ballyhoo fish are used as bait for catching pelagic fish species since the pelagic fish tend to chase ballyhoo fish in their natural habitats. This identification chart for fish species along the North Carolina coast allows anglers to turn the many different species of fish into recognizable individuals with the knowledge of their habits and the rules regarding those fish species.
Thus, if anglers can recognize the type of fish that they are catching, they will know where the fish species live, what type of fight the fish will provide when being caught, and if the fish species is legal to keep. This identification chart is another way of simplifying the variety of fish species that live along the North Carolina coast.
