Bony Fish
Boney fish are fish that have skeletons made of bone, unlike sharks whose skeletons are cartilaginous. These fish make up the majority of fish species and their size, habitat, appearance, and range are extremely varied.
Atlantic Cod
Scientific Name: Gadus morhua
Appearance: The Atlantic cod can be gray, gray green, or reddish brown on its back and sides. There are also numerous reddish brown spots on its back. Its belly is a pale white.
These fish are heavy-bodied with a large, blunt head and string jaws. They have a blunt snout with distinctive barbel, a whisker-like organ. They have three rounded dorsal fins and a broad square tailfin.
Diet: These bottom-dwellers feed on a variety of invertebrates and fish that live close to the ocean floor.
Location: The Atlantic cod lives on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. They live on the ocean floor near rocky slopes and prefer rougher substrates, rather than finer mud or silt.
These fish are edible and have a mild, clean flavor. They can be sold and eaten in a variety of forms.
Appearance: The Atlantic cod can be gray, gray green, or reddish brown on its back and sides. There are also numerous reddish brown spots on its back. Its belly is a pale white.
These fish are heavy-bodied with a large, blunt head and string jaws. They have a blunt snout with distinctive barbel, a whisker-like organ. They have three rounded dorsal fins and a broad square tailfin.
Diet: These bottom-dwellers feed on a variety of invertebrates and fish that live close to the ocean floor.
Location: The Atlantic cod lives on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. They live on the ocean floor near rocky slopes and prefer rougher substrates, rather than finer mud or silt.
These fish are edible and have a mild, clean flavor. They can be sold and eaten in a variety of forms.
Atlantic Herring
Scientific Name: Clupea harengus
Appearance: Atlantic herring are small, around 14 to 17 inches in length. They are mostly a silvery color on the sides and underbelly. The very top of their backs are a deep blue or green blue color.
Their lower jaw protrudes a bit past their upper jaw, creating a moderately pointed snout. They are also laterally compressed, with makes them deeper than they are wide. They have one small rectangular dorsal fin and a heavily forked tailfin.
Diet: These fish feed on zooplankton, krill, and fish larvae.
Location: These fish are found on both sides of the Atlantic living in coastal and continental shelf waters. They often spawn In the waters between Nova Scotia and Maine as early as August.
Atlantic herring are schooling fish that play a very important part in the food chain. Bottom-dwelling fish, such as cod and haddock, often eat herring eggs off the sea floor. A number of other marine animals also prey upon juveniles due to their abundance.
They are edible and are most often sold tinned or canned. It is unfortunately rather difficult to find good fresh herring.
Appearance: Atlantic herring are small, around 14 to 17 inches in length. They are mostly a silvery color on the sides and underbelly. The very top of their backs are a deep blue or green blue color.
Their lower jaw protrudes a bit past their upper jaw, creating a moderately pointed snout. They are also laterally compressed, with makes them deeper than they are wide. They have one small rectangular dorsal fin and a heavily forked tailfin.
Diet: These fish feed on zooplankton, krill, and fish larvae.
Location: These fish are found on both sides of the Atlantic living in coastal and continental shelf waters. They often spawn In the waters between Nova Scotia and Maine as early as August.
Atlantic herring are schooling fish that play a very important part in the food chain. Bottom-dwelling fish, such as cod and haddock, often eat herring eggs off the sea floor. A number of other marine animals also prey upon juveniles due to their abundance.
They are edible and are most often sold tinned or canned. It is unfortunately rather difficult to find good fresh herring.
Bluefish
Scientific Name: Pomatomus saltatrix
Appearance: Bluefish are a greenish blue shade on their backs. Their sides and underbelly are silver. They have prominent, powerful jaws and their small, sharp teeth form a single row. Bluefish have stout bodies with two dorsal fins. The firs dorsal fin is shorter and rounder, while the second is longer and more angular.
Diet: These fish feed primarily on smaller schooling fish, such as menhaden, and squid. They often perform what is known as a “bluefish blitz” while feeding. This is when large schools of these fish attack schools of baitfish together, churning the water. Their razor sharp teeth and powerful jaws let them eat nearly anything they can catch.
Location: Bluefish live in temperate and tropical oceans around the world. In Atlantic waters off the U.S. they can be found from Maine down to Florida. They migrate seasonally, moving north in the spring and summer and south in the fall and winter.
These fish can be caught and eaten. They do not freeze very well, however, and are best eaten fresh.
Appearance: Bluefish are a greenish blue shade on their backs. Their sides and underbelly are silver. They have prominent, powerful jaws and their small, sharp teeth form a single row. Bluefish have stout bodies with two dorsal fins. The firs dorsal fin is shorter and rounder, while the second is longer and more angular.
Diet: These fish feed primarily on smaller schooling fish, such as menhaden, and squid. They often perform what is known as a “bluefish blitz” while feeding. This is when large schools of these fish attack schools of baitfish together, churning the water. Their razor sharp teeth and powerful jaws let them eat nearly anything they can catch.
Location: Bluefish live in temperate and tropical oceans around the world. In Atlantic waters off the U.S. they can be found from Maine down to Florida. They migrate seasonally, moving north in the spring and summer and south in the fall and winter.
These fish can be caught and eaten. They do not freeze very well, however, and are best eaten fresh.
Ocean sunfish
Scientific Name: Mola mola
Appearance: This common mola is a very unusual looking fish. The body of this fish is very flat and rounded, giving it the appearance of only having a head. Its dorsal and caudal fins are fairly close to its tail, which only enhances this illusion. The dorsal and caudal fins are large and somewhat triangular. Their mouth is small and rounded. They are silver in color all over and have a slight overall sheen. Its skin is covered in mucus and also has a very thick and gritty texture when touched.
The common mola is the heaviest bony fish in the world, reaching up to 10 feet in length and weighing up to 4 tons.
Diet: This fish eats mainly gelatinous organisms, such as jellyfish.
Location: These fish have been seen in both temperate and tropical waters. They appear in the Gulf of Maine around July and August. Their exact distribution and movements are still mostly unknown.
These fish’s movements are also rather unique. It tends to lie on its side and flops its dorsal fin down to move. The splashing caused by this movement makes them easy to spot from the surface.
Appearance: This common mola is a very unusual looking fish. The body of this fish is very flat and rounded, giving it the appearance of only having a head. Its dorsal and caudal fins are fairly close to its tail, which only enhances this illusion. The dorsal and caudal fins are large and somewhat triangular. Their mouth is small and rounded. They are silver in color all over and have a slight overall sheen. Its skin is covered in mucus and also has a very thick and gritty texture when touched.
The common mola is the heaviest bony fish in the world, reaching up to 10 feet in length and weighing up to 4 tons.
Diet: This fish eats mainly gelatinous organisms, such as jellyfish.
Location: These fish have been seen in both temperate and tropical waters. They appear in the Gulf of Maine around July and August. Their exact distribution and movements are still mostly unknown.
These fish’s movements are also rather unique. It tends to lie on its side and flops its dorsal fin down to move. The splashing caused by this movement makes them easy to spot from the surface.
wolffish
Scientific Name: Anarhichas lupus
Appearance: Atlantic wolffish are a brownish olive color while they are juveniles and turn to a blue gray color upon reaching sexual maturity. They have dark bands running transversely down their sides. They have elongated body shape that is deepest at the neck and tapers back to its tail. They get their name from their large, ferocious looking heads with mouths full of large teeth. They have very strong jaws equipped with large canines and molars. Their dorsal fin is rectangular and extends from its neck to the base of its tail. They also have large, round pectoral fins. Their average length is around 3 feet.
Diet: These fish eat a variety of bottom-dwelling creatures, including crustaceans, mollusks, and echinoderms (sea urchins).
Location: Wolffish prefer ice cold waters and have evolved a natural anti-freeze to keep their blood flowing smoothly. These fish can be found mainly in rocky areas. They make their homes in rocky or broken terrains that offer lots of nooks and caves. They are quite sedentary and need a safe den to hide, ambush prey, and lay their eggs.
Wolffish are unique in how they care for their eggs. Most fish spawn millions of eggs into the water that are then fertilized and abandoned. Wolffish have their eggs in nests (usually and small nook or cave) and them the male stays to protect them up to four months after they hatch.
Appearance: Atlantic wolffish are a brownish olive color while they are juveniles and turn to a blue gray color upon reaching sexual maturity. They have dark bands running transversely down their sides. They have elongated body shape that is deepest at the neck and tapers back to its tail. They get their name from their large, ferocious looking heads with mouths full of large teeth. They have very strong jaws equipped with large canines and molars. Their dorsal fin is rectangular and extends from its neck to the base of its tail. They also have large, round pectoral fins. Their average length is around 3 feet.
Diet: These fish eat a variety of bottom-dwelling creatures, including crustaceans, mollusks, and echinoderms (sea urchins).
Location: Wolffish prefer ice cold waters and have evolved a natural anti-freeze to keep their blood flowing smoothly. These fish can be found mainly in rocky areas. They make their homes in rocky or broken terrains that offer lots of nooks and caves. They are quite sedentary and need a safe den to hide, ambush prey, and lay their eggs.
Wolffish are unique in how they care for their eggs. Most fish spawn millions of eggs into the water that are then fertilized and abandoned. Wolffish have their eggs in nests (usually and small nook or cave) and them the male stays to protect them up to four months after they hatch.
CLF. (2013). Atlantic Wolffish. Conservation Law Foundation. Retrieved from: http://www.clf.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Wolffish-fact-sheet.pdf
DMR. (2006). Do You Know Your Catch?. State of Maine Department of Marine Resources. Retrieved from: http://www.maine.gov/dmr/recreational/anglerguide/doyouknowyourcatch/documents/medmrknowyourcatch.pdf
NECWA. (2007). Common Mola. New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance. Retrieved from: http://www.necwa.org/sunfish.html
NOAA. (2014). Atlantic Cod. FIshwatch: U.S. Seafood Facts. Retrieved from: http://www.fishwatch.gov/seafood_profiles/species/cod/species_pages/atlantic_cod.htm
NOAA. (2014). Atlantic Herring. FIshwatch: U.S. Seafood Facts. Retrieved from: http://www.fishwatch.gov/seafood_profiles/species/herring/species_pages/atl_herring.htm
NOAA. (2014). Bluefish. Fishwatch: U.S. Seafood Facts. Retrieved from: http://www.fishwatch.gov/seafood_profiles/species/bluefish/species_pages/bluefish.htm
DMR. (2006). Do You Know Your Catch?. State of Maine Department of Marine Resources. Retrieved from: http://www.maine.gov/dmr/recreational/anglerguide/doyouknowyourcatch/documents/medmrknowyourcatch.pdf
NECWA. (2007). Common Mola. New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance. Retrieved from: http://www.necwa.org/sunfish.html
NOAA. (2014). Atlantic Cod. FIshwatch: U.S. Seafood Facts. Retrieved from: http://www.fishwatch.gov/seafood_profiles/species/cod/species_pages/atlantic_cod.htm
NOAA. (2014). Atlantic Herring. FIshwatch: U.S. Seafood Facts. Retrieved from: http://www.fishwatch.gov/seafood_profiles/species/herring/species_pages/atl_herring.htm
NOAA. (2014). Bluefish. Fishwatch: U.S. Seafood Facts. Retrieved from: http://www.fishwatch.gov/seafood_profiles/species/bluefish/species_pages/bluefish.htm
Updated: December 4, 2014