Mystery Fish Contest #15

Answer: Shiner Perch

The mystery fish species in our fifteenth mystery fish species contest is a shiner perch or Cymatogaster aggregata. It is a saltwater species, the smallest species in the surfperch family. During the summer, they are commonly found in inshore waters, tidal zones, around jetties, kelp forests. Key features used to identify shiner perch are the eight longitudinal dark stripes along its silver body. These stripes are crossed with yellow bands running from the dorsal to the ventral part of the body. Their average length is around 10 to 15cm, but occasionally you may encounter fish up to 20cm long.

Out of 243 entries, 162 (67%) were able to identify it correctly. The most common incorrect answers include redside shiner, yellow perch, shad. The term perch is not accepted as a correct answer because it is generic name for many different saltwater and freshwater species.

Congratulations to Brent Rieder for being the lucky one of 162 who will receive ten 1/16oz and 1/8oz Croc spoons from Gibbs Delta Tackle!