Fishermen! Help me identify this fish!

[DefDC]

I normally catch bluegill and largemouth, but I can't figure out what kind of fish this is.

Fishy!

Doing a brief Google search, it seems that it could be a Red Eye Bass, Spotted Bass, or Smallmouth. I'm unfamiliar with those, and I can't find any good pics. I caught two of them with medium sized cranks, in about 15' of water in southern Michigan. (Diamond Lake)

They both had blood red eyes, and small bass-like mouthes.

Any help?


Update:

Second Bass

Appears to be a rock bass! Great reseach guys!

Link, thanks to NTB!

Final link, it's definately a Rock Bass

 

[nonameo]

looks like a smaller largemouth bass.

Edit: it could be a crossbreed.

edit: striped bass?

http://www.odu.edu/sci/cqfe/sp...ped-bass-picture-2.jpg

Doesn't really look like stripes on it though, looks more like dots.

 

[IronWing]

It looks worried.

 

[YoungGun21]

catfish! pirahna!

some sort of bass...

 

[alien42]

Originally posted by: nonameo
looks like a smaller largemouth bass.

Edit: it could be a crossbreed.

edit: striped bass?

http://www.odu.edu/sci/cqfe/sp...ped-bass-picture-2.jpg

Doesn't really look like stripes on it though, looks more like dots.

striped bass was my first thought

 

[spidey07]

juvenile striper.

Put him back. He'll get to be 15 pounds average. PUT HIM BACK!

 

[DefDC]

Originally posted by: alien42

Originally posted by: nonameo
looks like a smaller largemouth bass.

Edit: it could be a crossbreed.

edit: striped bass?

http://www.odu.edu/sci/cqfe/sp...ped-bass-picture-2.jpg

Doesn't really look like stripes on it though, looks more like dots.

striped bass was my first thought

Yeah.. Doing a little more research, it looks a LOT like a Striped Bass... However the dorsal fins don't quite match, so I wonder if it IS a crossbreed of a Red Eye and a Striped...

That'd be about dead on..

Here's the second one I caught. Stupid cameraphone mangled the color, but the fins are much clearer than the 1st pic.

Second Bass

 

[DefDC]

I release all my fish. Not that I catch THAT many keepers anyways... This was, by far, my best...


My Best!


I'm not the best bass fisherman, but I was very happy to land this!

(don't make fun of the crappy troller, I borrowed it in a pinch! I have a nice new Minn-Kota now!)

 

[GagHalfrunt]

It's a crappie.

 

[spidey07]

Hey, at least you caught something. I went on a weekend camping/fishing trip and all of us go skunked - NOTHING.

However a guy trolling deep at 60 feet hit both of his lines. Both stripers - looked to be about 15 and 10 pounds.

 

[nonameo]

oooohh... nice fish! actually, if you look closely, it looks a lot like the other fish you caught! I wouldn't be surprised at all if they are the same breed.

 

[NatePo717]

Here's the biggest fish we've ever caught Fishy

 

[nonameo]

Originally posted by: NatePo717
Here's the biggest fish we've ever caught Fishy

tuna?

 

[NatePo717]

Originally posted by: nonameo

Originally posted by: NatePo717
Here's the biggest fish we've ever caught Fishy

tuna?

Yup. Blue Fin to be exact. (yes I know the fins are yellow but Blue Fin tuna have yellow fins down their back... go figure)

 

[DefDC]

Originally posted by: NatePo717

Originally posted by: nonameo

Originally posted by: NatePo717
Here's the biggest fish we've ever caught Fishy

tuna?

Yup. Blue Fin to be exact. (yes I know the fins are yellow but Blue Fin tuna have yellow fins down their back... go figure)

Nice! Doesn't beat my prize catch back in '88! (Don't make fun.. I knew I was a dork!)

Stupid, but HUGE, carp!


This fish was kind of a legend in the neighborhood pond. I had to remove 1/2 a dozen hooks from it's mouth! I think I was the 1st one to succeed in landing this bastage! Not that I'm bragging about catching a carp!

Edit

Acid-wash, FTW!!

FWIW, I'm close to 6' tall in this pic. My hands are pretty big. That carp is probably close to 4' long!

 

[DrPizza]

It's a rock bass. Voracious little buggers... I've caught them numerous times on lures that were 2 or 3 inches longer than them.

 

[txrandom]

That's no crappie.

 

[nonameo]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
It's a rock bass. Voracious little buggers... I've caught them numerous times on lures that were 2 or 3 inches longer than them.

looked at some pics and 100% agree

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
It's a rock bass. Voracious little buggers... I've caught them numerous times on lures that were 2 or 3 inches longer than them.

Please post your secrets oh wise one. I'm getting into fishing and would like to learn from ye.

 

[DrPizza]

Top picture on this page is a perfect image of a rock bass.

More info on the species here

side by side with smallmouth and largemouth (and a pike)
and lastly, here just in case there are any lingering doubts.

 

[Jhill]

Crappie would be my first guess.

 

[cbuchach]

I always though Crappies were a bit more whiteish. I would vote for a Rock Bass. I remember catching and eating those in Northern Wisconsin.

 

[DefDC]

Rock bass dorsal fins totally match. Good find! Although I don't see any mention of the red eyes... But other than that, I think we gots a winnar!

 

[James3shin]

thats a rock bass!

 

[meltdown75]

crappies are rounder.