Cape Cod Commercial Fish Species
Additional fish species information can be found on
the NOAA site Codfish (Gadus morhua)DESCRIPTION Color ranges from green-grey to red. Found from the surface down to 250+ fathoms in cooler water. Female cod may lay more than 3 million eggs yearly. FOOD Eat clams, mussels, crabs, lobsters, sea stars, squid, a large variety of other fish and more. (basically anything they can, even rocks and sea birds have been found in cod stomachs!) HABITAT Live on rocky to pebbly bottom that is necessary to hide from predators and finding food. FISHERY Caught with trawls, nets, traps and hooks. Markets in the U.S. and overseas. Price per pound varies widely: $0.50 – 2.80. Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)DESCRIPTION Generally resembles the cod but has a black line along each side and the black patch midway between along the back. Freshly caught, haddock are a dark purplish-grey. The belly is white. FOOD Sluggish but opportunistic, seldom feeding on other fishes but prefer clams, snails, worms, crabs and urchins as well as squid. HABITAT Common on smooth, hard bottom of broken shells, sand and pebbles. Prefers slightly warmer water than cod. FISHERY Caught with hooks, nets and mobile gear. Prices range from $1.00 to $3.00 per pound Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias)DESCRIPTION Characterized by a sharp spine in front of each dorsal fin, they lack an anal fin and have a flat head and the tapering snout ends in a blunt tip. FOOD Dogfish are opportunistic, feeding on other fishes, shellfish, squid and other small marine organisms HABITAT Found in cool water, dogfish swim in swarms of many thousands from the surf zone to depths of 100 fathoms. FISHERY Currently the commercial fishery is closed all year due to scientific estimates of low numbers of reproducing females in the fishery. Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus harengus)DESCRIPTION Compressed body with a large mouth and projecting lower jaw. They have a patch of teeth on the roof of the mouth. FOOD Feeding on copepods, shrimp, and larvae is common in juveniles and adults. HABITAT Open ocean travelers, spawning occurs over rocky bottom generally between 2 and 30 fathoms FISHERY Herring are a major prey resource for species like tuna, cod, bass and many shore birds and marine mammals. Commercial fishery prices range around $150 per ton. Thorny Skate (Raja radiata)DESCRIPTION Related to sharks. No spines on the tails (unlike sting rays). Lay eggs that hatch after 4-12 months throughout the year. FOOD Eats shrimp, worms, lobsters, snails, and small fish HABITAT Strong, active swimmers that live on smooth to rocky bottom. FISHERY Caught with trawls, nets and hooks. Markets in the U.S. and overseas. Price per pound for the wings: $0.15 – 1.00 Mackerel (Scomber scombrus)DESCRIPTION Dark bars running midway down the back, velvety to the touch. Dark grey to blue in color. Swift swimming require a lot of oxygen. Gather in dense schools of many thousands. FOOD Eat shrimp, fish eggs, and plankton. HABITAT Found at the surface down to 100 fathoms. FISHERY Caught with nets, trawls and weir traps, mainly April to August. Price per pound: $0.10 – 0.30 Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)DESCRIPTION Dark blue to black in color with green-grey shine. Maximum size is 118 inches (9.8 feet!), 1,496 pounds. FOOD Eat numerous other fish HABITAT Found in the water column (pelagic) from Iceland to Africa. FISHERY Caught with nets and rod and reel. Large commercial and recreational, mainly for the Japanese sushi markets. Price per pound: $10.00 – 30.00. Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix)DESCRIPTION Deeply forked tail, color is sea-green/blue above to silvery below. Maximum size 3.5 feet. FOOD Voracious, eats mackerel, herring, squid, hake, butterfish and more. HABITAT Found both inshore and offshore in the water column (pelagic) from America to Australia in warmer waters. FISHERY Caught with trawls, nets, hooks and traps. Commercial and recreational fishery. Price per pound: $1.00 – 2.00. Striped Bass (Roccus saxatilis)DESCRIPTION Dark olive to blueish above, silvery on the belly with stripes on the sides. Average weight is from 15-35 pounds. Females are larger than males. Often found in the surf. FOOD Voracious, eats smaller fish of various kinds, but also lobsters, shrimps and clams. HABITAT Inshore waters at the surface mostly. Bass swim up into rivers and estuaries to spawn. FISHERY Caught mostly with hook and line. Commercial and recreational fishery. Price per pound: $1.00 – 3.00. Flatfish(many species including all flounder, sole, halibut, dabs, plaice and turbots)DESCRIPTION  Characterized by flattened bodied with both eyes on one side of the body. FOOD Fish, crabs, mussels, lobster, clams, worms and other bottom-dwelling organisms HABITAT Sand or gravel bottom, often found well camouflaged with their surroundings FISHERY Caught mostly with bottom trawls, mostly a commercial and fishery. Price per pound: $1.00 to $3.00. Monkfish/goosefish (Lophius americanus)DESCRIPTION Strongly flattened body with a large head and enormous, tooth-filled mouth. Eyes are protected by horny protuberances with a “fishing lure” located behind the upper lip. FOOD A notorious diet, goosefish feed on seabirds of all descriptions as well as lobsters, squid and other invertebrates. HABITAT Found at the tideline during cool months and in deeper water in the warmer season. Prefers rocky bottom FISHERY The U.S. commercial market is small compared to demand in Europe. The heads sell between $1.00 and $4.00 per pound. Last updated: September 8, 2005 |
Today's CatchGet Ready for the Event of the Season! Hookers Ball VIII - August 16th.  See the boats unload and visit the Hosts at the Chatham Fish Pier!  Help Hook the Cure Striped Bass Derby! August 23, 2008, Benefits Parkinson disease research. HAVE YOU CAUGHT A TAGGED HADDOCK OR COD? Report the tagged fish and receive a prize!
If you catch a haddock or cod with a tag:
Fish length Spawning condition Date and time Location Water depth and temperature Gear used Fate of fish (released or landed)
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