Similarities And Differences Among New York's Prey Fish
| Species | Description | Habitat | Reproduction | Feeding | Comments/ Fishing Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alewife | 5-6" long Silvery iridescent sides and gray-green back Deep, laterally compressed body |
Open water of large lakes or nearshore ocean waters Found as deep as 300 feed below surface |
Spawns in summer (May-July) Eggs scattered in shallow water near beaches or in ponds over sandy or gravelly bottom |
Eats primarily zooplankton and insect larvae | Forms large schools in midwater Critical link in Great Lakes food webs Prey for salmon, trout, bass, northern pike and walleye |
| Rainbow Smelt | 7-8" long Greenish back, silvery sides and white belly. Bright silver striped and brown or black spots on sides Slender cylindrical body Small adipose fin Large teeth (including curved canines) on the tongue |
Large cool lakes or ocean. Found from surface down to 200 feet | Spawns in spring (March-May) Scatters stalked, adhesive eggs in streams and over gravelly shoals |
Young eat zooplankton Adults eat crustaceans, insects and small fish |
Rainbow smelt provide good fishing opportunities for anglers; dip netting in spring & ice fishing in late winter. Also an important commercial fish species in Canada. Important prey fish for landlocked Atlantic salmon and lake trout. Also eaten by other trout and salmon. |
| Slimy Sculpin | 3-5" long Body is dark brown with marbled color pattern on sides; breeding males are reddish Enlarged, somewhat flattened head Eyes high on head & close together No scales on body Small prickles or spines behind pectoral fins |
Cold, rocky streams and lakes. Prefer areas with some shelter | Spawns in spring (April-June) Builds nest in rock crevice in stony streams or lake shallows. Lays adhesive eggs in nest. May be more than one female per nest Males guard eggs and young |
Eats insect larvae and other large, bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Occasionally eats small fish | Once thought to be an important egg predator of other fish species, but this idea is not supported by research Important prey for lake trout, brook trout and northern pike |
| Gizzard Shad | 10-14" long Bluish back, silvery sides and white belly Blunt, round snout that overhangs small mouth Deep, laterally compressed body Last ray of dorsal fin is extended as a long filament Scaleless area in front of dorsal fin |
Quiet water fish Found near the surface in lakes, bays and sluggish rivers Can tolerate high turbidity, but prefers clear water |
Spawns spring to early summer (April-June) Moves into shallow water to scatter adhesive eggs over bottom. Several males usually attend one female |
Young eat minute zooplankton Adults are filter feeders eating phytoplankton and algae Is one of the few freshwater fish to eat mostly plant material |
Only true freshwater herring in New York Young shad (up to 1.5 years old) are eaten by many fish species. Adult shad, however, are not usually important forage fish |
| Trout-perch | 3-4" long (up to 6" in Lake Ontario) Pale, nearly transparent body with 5 rows of rounded spots Conical mouth overhangs the mouth Has adipose fin and spiny fin rays |
Found in a variety of habitats from shallow streams to 200 feet down in large lakes Usually occurs over sand or gravel and avoids areas of rooted aquatic vegetation |
Spawns from spring through summer (May-August) Scatters adhesive eggs in shallow, rocky streams Several males attend one female |
Eats insect larvae, amphipods and small fish | Its name comes from the presence of an adipose fin (like trout) and spiny rays (like perch). Not actually closely related to either. Important prey for walleye, northern pike, burbot and lake trout. Also eaten by brook trout, sauger, yellow perch and freshwater drum |