Help with species identification please

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#1 Post by **shamoo0804** » Sat May 24, 2008 12:44 pm

Hi all,

Please see the link to my shore report...but I'll post the pics here aswell.

http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/bull ... hp?t=16432

I caught a gurnard, which I presume to be a grey gurnard, however I do know that juvenile red gurnard may not have strong red colouration so thought I'd ask the question, which is it, red or grey :?:

Also had what I thought might be a poor cod, but not too sure, I suppose it could have been a coalie, or even a really red/orange pollock, again a bit of help with this would be great.

Thanks lad's :wink:

#2 Post by **jonny gilbert** » Sat May 24, 2008 12:48 pm

1st pic is a pollock u can tell by the lateral line which on a pollock it is curved and there is barbell so a deffo pollock and the bottom pic is a deffo grey gurnard as far as i know.

#3 Post by **shamoo0804** » Sat May 24, 2008 3:24 pm

Thanks jonny :( I was hoping it wasnt a pollock ( too add to the species count), I caught a good few pollock in the same session, but the others had a very dark, greeny brownish colouration, this was very bright orangey reddish, which made me think it was something different.

Same with the gurnard, it had vey slight red/pinky colour on the top half?!

The photos dont really do the true colour of the fish justice, but thanks for your help :wink:

#4 Post by **mickeyfish** » Sun May 25, 2008 12:47 am

i would query the gurnard to be a tub, there seems to be a hint of blue in the fins

mick

Irish_Shamrock · #5 Post by **Irish_Shamrock** » Sun May 25, 2008 4:24 pm

Definitely pollack and grey gurnard. As someone mentioned the lateral line gives away the pollack and if the gurnard was a tub, the pectoral fins would have been 3 or 4 times the size of a greys. If it was a red gurnard there would have been no mistaking it.

Try not to rely on colouration to ID your fish as this can vary greatly with the environment in which the fish lives. It is better to concentrate on physical features (like lateral lines ar fins for example) when ID'ing your fish

HTH

#6 Post by **Adam S** » Mon May 26, 2008 1:16 pm

pollock and a grey. defo a pollock, it wouldnt matter what the colour was like. and looks to be a grey to me

#7 Post by **shamoo0804** » Mon May 26, 2008 3:41 pm

I appreciate the help guy's, thanks vey much :wink: