Going Coastal

Fish of New York Harbor

Black fish – tautog (Tautoga onitis) Blackfish are a popular fish with anglers along a jetty or from a party boat. They are easy to catch and are good eating (what could be better?).
A member of the wrasse family, this fish has the buck-toothed incisors that are characteristic of that family. Blackfish feed primarily on mussels, but will eat almost any mollusk (shellfish) or crustacean (shrimp and lobsters). Therefore any scrap of food on a hook will make tempting bait. Blackfish can be almost as long as 36 in. and over 24 pounds, but that would be a monster in New York waters. It does have a minimum size limit of 14″ in NY.

Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix)
To imagine a more ferocious predator than the bluefish, one might envision sharks or piranha. But probably only man can be compared, for the bluefish wantonly cuts into schools of prey and kills in excess of what it needs to consume. Bluefish are common to New York waters throughout the summer. They are excellent sport fish, although one needs a steel leader to prevent their sharp teeth from cutting the line. They also are good to eat, especially if brought right to the grill and cooked fresh. “Snappers” are small bluefish and are often a child’s first fishing experience since they bite any line and can be caught almost on every cast. Bluefish can weigh over 30 pounds. The maximum length is 51.18 inches. In Florida some reported “shark attacks” may have actually been when swimmers happened into a school of feeding bluefish. A toe could easily be taken by an adult bluefish.

Fluke–Summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) Fluke is another favorite of New York fishers. It is a flatfish that lives its adult life on its side. As a newly hatched larval fish, it swims upright and looks like any “normal” fish. As it develops, it turns to its side; in this case, to its left side. One eye migrates to the side, so that both eyes are on the left side. Other flounders turn the opposite way to become members of the “right-handed” family. The juvenile fish then goes to the bottom where it lives its life completely sideways. The side facing up develops coloration that matches the surroundings, and the downward side is white. Hold a fluke perpendicular, and you will see a normal fish; dorsal fin up, pectoral fins on the sides, tail fin vertical, vent on the bottom, normal in every way except that both eyes are on one side and the sides are different colors. Fluke are excellent eating, with firm white flesh.

Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) Schools of menhaden mass like clouds in the surface waters of New York throughout the summer and young menhaden can fill the inlets around the harbor. Like the herds on African plains these “grazers” are massed in great hordes. They are the prey for the predators like stripers and blues. Smaller fish are taken by birds when the predators drive them to the surface.  Menhaden feed by straining plankton from the rich waters around New York. On the inner side or their gills are protrusions called “gill rakers”. As the fish swim with open mouths, the gill rakers filter the plankton (mostly algae) from the water. They therefore will not take a hook, and are caught only by net or “jigging” where they are so close together that a plain hook or “jig” is likely to catch into the body of one or another. They are excellent bait for stripers. Menhaden are poor quality for human food and are harvested usually for bait or, by the ton, for oil, fishmeal, or fertilizer.

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias Taurus) The sand tiger shark is one of the common sharks off NYC.  Most people would rather not know about the shark populations around the beaches of NYC, but they are out there. Fortunately, most, like the sand tiger are not dangerous to humans. The sand tiger is a popular shark in aquariums because it has a mouthful of sharp teeth and excites the public viewer.  These teeth are designed to catch fish. They are thin and sharply pointed.  Dangerous sharks usually have flat teeth that are good for biting pieces out of large prey. These sharks rarely come near the beaches of NYC. Other sharks in New York waters are the sand bar shark, is also a fish eater, and since it probably patrols the sand bars just off the beaches of Coney Island, bathers will never be aware that a grey, six foot, sharky-looking, shark, swims so near. The Aquarium has also noted small thresher sharks that fishermen have caught in their nets. These young animals must have been born in the area, for the adults are off-shore sharks. They are known for the extraordinarily long tail that they use to herd fish into tight balls when they feed. Local fishermen often land the smooth dogfish that is also called “sand shark”.  This is a totally harmless shark that feeds on small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.

Shad (Alosa sapidissima) The shad is another member of the herring family, like the menhaden. It is “anadromous”, meaning it runs from the ocean upriver to spawn. Shad have thinner gill rakers than the menhaden, and consume slightly larger plankton, mostly copepods and small shrimp. They are caught in the Hudson as they go upriver to spawn every spring. Shad have a large mouth compared to other herring and will actually take a hook. They provide a good fight if they can be tempted to bite. Shad are flavorful smoked, and are a favorite “planked” around fires at shad festivals along the Hudson. Adults can average 20 to 23 inches in length and five to six pounds in weight. 

Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) The striped bass is the premiere sport fish in New York waters. It also makes a wonderful meal. This popular fish has been raised in aquaculture and introduced to lakes and into the Pacific along the west coast. Stripers can be huge, although the chance of catching a giant is an unfulfilled dream for most New York anglers. The maximum-recorded length is 78.7 inches. (Bigger than most fishermen) and over 125 pounds! Stripers run along the sandy beaches all along the east coast. They stay close to shore so that they are within range of surf casters or pier fishermen. The State of New York imposes a minimum size limit on striped bass. Only fish over 28 inches can be kept. Smaller fish must be released, but are still fun to catch.

Paul L. Sieswerda, Curator NY Aquarium Excerpt from GOING COASTAL NEW YORK CITY