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              NY's 
                Sportfishing Guide
 
 Fish Identification Guide
 
 For 
                a printable version of this Fish ID Guide, Click 
                Here (PDF)
 
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 Bluefish
 Bluefish are excellent gamefish that form large schools and have 
              strong biting action. Watch out for their bite! Catch them from 
              late spring until early fall, in the surf ... Read 
              more
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 Porgy (Scup)
 Porgy contain a lot of bones, and they
 are good to eat as a fillet or whole. New
 Englanders call it scup (a derivative from
 its Native American name). They like hard bottoms and submerged 
              structures. Many party boats target them from summer through early 
              fall.
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 Atlantic Mackerel
 Atlantic Mackerel travel in schools.
 Young fish feed on plankton before
 switching to progressively larger prey.
 Many anglers catch them on a mackerel
 tree from May-Sept.
 | WeakfishWeakfish are good fighters when hooked
 on light tackle. The name refers to the
 tendency for the mouth parts to tear when the fish is hooked. Catch 
              them late in the evenings from spring to the start of summer.... 
              Read 
              more
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 Black Sea Bass
 Black Sea Bass live in the Mid-Atlantic all year and adults like 
              rocky bottoms. Anglers fish with squid and other natural baits, 
              and the best fishing is in late spring to early summer.
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 Striped Bass
 Striped Bass are excellent gamefish for
 many anglers. They prefer to stay close to shore when they are not 
              moving between land masses. They form schools and can be caught 
              in late spring, summer, and fall.... Read 
              more
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 Summer Flounder
 Summer Flounder are the most popular
 flatfish that are caught by recreational
 anglers in the Mid-Atlantic. Many anglers
 prefer to fish from party/charter boats,
 or rent boats for drift fishing. Catch them
 in summer.... Read 
              more
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 Blackfish (Tautog)
 Blackfish have a leathery skin that is
 slippery. They like rocky bottoms where
 they feed on mussels, crabs, and barnacles. Catch these fish in 
              fall after they have moved inshore, until late spring.... Read 
              more
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 Winter Flounder
 Winter Flounder are excellent fish for
 new anglers to catch. They prefer shallow
 bays and estuaries with sand or silt. You can catch their fall and 
              spring runs from a party or charter boat.... Read 
              more
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          | Freshwater
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 Yellow Perch
 Yellow Perch is identified by the black
 vertical bars on their yellow sides. They
 prefer shallow protected waters where
 they feed on aquatic insects, crayfish, and fish. Catch them ice 
              fishing with worms, grubs and small lures.
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 Pumpkinseed
 Pumpkinseed are the most abundant
 sunfish in New York. Look for the
 pronounced orange/black spot on the
 gill cover. They eat insects, crustaceans
 and small fish. Catch them in shallow
 sheltered waters on live bait or small
 spinners and jigs.
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 Brook Trout
 Brook Trout is the official fish of New York State and it is 
              also called the speckled trout. This popular gamefish lives in small 
              to moderate-sized streams, lakes and ponds, where it feeds on insects. 
              Catch them on flies, artificial lures, minnows and worms.
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 Largemouth Bass
 Largemouth Bass is the largest member in the sunfish 
              family and they grow in excess of 10 lbs. They prefer densely vegetated 
              areas and submerged cover. Anglers stillfish, cast live bait 
              or a wide variety of lures to catch them.
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          | Fish illustrations reprinted with permission from 
              the Smithsonian Institution,
 NMNH, Division of Fishes, NYS DEC, A.J. McClanes Field Guide 
              to Saltwater
 Fishes of North America, and John Waldman.
 
 Visit NYSG's Fisheries Resource 
              Center and
 NYSDEC's 
              Web Site to learn more information about these fish.
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