Fish ID please

[chuckaroo]

The species isnt generally mentioned in discussions about sea scorpions and IDing issues. Maybe because unless it isnt under 6 or 7 cms, it cant be that species, not going to be a common rod and line fish. The illustrations available show a fish that hasnt got significant spines and therefore shouldnt be readily confused.

Absolutely, the fish is very small to be caught on rod and line, i was just pointing out as "a matter of fact" that they exist..
if the image of the Norway Bullhead from fishbase above is a correct ID, then I can see spines on the operculum. regardless, from the photo, i would still see this little fish being easily confused with juveniles of the other 2 species..

[chuckaroo]

have you any pics of the big short spined sea scorpions..?
i wanna see em!

[cathalger]

have you any pics of the big short spined sea scorpions..?
i wanna see em!

Charlie I will have a go at hoking out a pic or 2 as soon as I get a chance, pretty sure theres a lump of a fish on a north american website. Its a few years since I seen it last. Almost certain Paul Young got a good big one while trying to catch halibut way up in the north atlantic somewhere- on a tv programme, nearly sure it was Paul Young. Isnt that what you call the Scottish boy???

[Paulod]

Thanks for the discussion lads. Still not sure if it's poisonous or not so was extra careful releasing it back.

[chuckaroo]

Thanks for the discussion lads. Still not sure if it's poisonous or not so was extra careful releasing it back.

the SSSS and the LSSS are not poisonous at all mate. absolutely harmless apart from the chance of a small prick from a spine..

watch out for this guy here though:

calscorpwoob.jpg

he is called the California Scorpion fish Scorpaena guttata
he looks quite similar to the SSSS and LSSS at first glance and apparently it isn't impossible for him to be caught from our shores
poisonous spines, but very rare around UK/Ireland

[chuckaroo]

Paul Young. Isnt that what you call the Scottish boy???

aye. same name as the english singer dude..
'hooked on fishing'..

[cathalger]

Thanks for the discussion lads. Still not sure if it's poisonous or not so was extra careful releasing it back.

Sorry for all this discussion on your thread Paul, hope you dont mind. I just find these fish very interesting, as does my mate Charlie too, he has a terrible habit of catching nice sea scorpions and other more rarely encountered stuff also.

Best thing to do in future is probably to dip thje fish in water and see if it has a tiny barbel growing out of the back of it upper lip, if it has its long spined- it aint always easy top see it when out of the water. Tight lines.

[donal domeney]

Here's what a real one looks like.
Caught 09/12/2008 from de wall in Monkstown

[kieran]

OMG

And there was me thinking the short spined one has short spines and the long spined one had long spines!!

[cathalger]

Great fish Donal, very very similar to the one Charlie has up earlier, Short spined right? I reckon Charlies is the same species.

Nice fish Donal, cheers for sharing. Charlie that California sea scorpion is a beauty also.

Heres a wee cracker my cousin caught while pollack fishing off Torr Head, Co Antrim in 2007. Its a Long Spined (T. bubalis), its wee mouth barbel is difficult to see as it is stuck tight to the lip, also it isnt pure white as in most specimens, but red and white and it is very well camouflaged against its backround. It grabbed the tail of his mackerel strip and refused to let go.