The Survey catches the first Fourspot Flounder since 2008, along with some Red Goatfish and Roughtail Stingrays.
Net Notes
The VIMS Juvenile Fish and Blue Crab Trawl Survey conducts scientific sampling year-round in the James, York, and Rappahannock Rivers, and in lower Chesapeake Bay. Net Notes is a periodic column describing interesting observations from survey research.
Two similar looking porgies, Scup and Pinfish, can easily be distinguished from one another through examination of their teeth.
The first occurrence of an Ocellated Flounder and a Whitefin Sharksucker on the Trawl Survey.
Five juvenile Atlantic Sturgeon are collected from the Pamunkey River.
Species rarely encountered by the Survey, such as Red Goatfish and Florida Pompano, are seen, along with a large Black Drum and Spiny Butterfly Ray.
Spotfin Butterflyfish are colorful tropical reef fish that occasionally stray into Chesapeake Bay.
Two Atlantic Angel Sharks are captured by survey scientists.
The unique looking Atlantic Cutlassfish is common in Chesapeake Bay.
Trawl survey researchers observe several Northern Sand Lances, a species that is rare in Chesapeake Bay.
The Survey catches Chain Pipefish, Atlantic Bumper, Bluespotted Cornetfish, and Planehead Filefish.
Survey scientists observe Longnose Gar, a primitive species with bony scales and a beak-like snout full of very sharp teeth.
Survey scientists observe large Summer Flounder throughout the survey area.
Survey scientists encounter Banded Drum, Skilletfish, and a 52-inch wide Butterfly Ray.
In addition to well-known spring arrivals like Spot, survey scientists encountered several lesser-known species such as Silver Hake and Chub Mackerel.
Among those species making their annual spring migration into the Bay are Atlantic Croaker and Summer Flounder.
Tesselated Darters were noted in samples from the Rappahannock and James River.
Several unique species, including Rough Scad and Fringed Flounder, appear among the regular autumn fish assemblage.
Survey scientists have seen Penaeid shrimps with increasing regularity during the last several months.
Survey scientists note the presence of Atlantic Moonfish, Northern Stargazer, Blue Runner, and Bullnose Rays.
Silver Seatrout are present in unusually high numbers.
Survey crew record several of Chesapeake Bay’s lesser known species: the Lined Seahorse, Atlantic Cutlassfish, and the Threespine Stickleback.
The influx of seasonal species into Chesapeake Bay continues.
Atlantic Croaker and Summer Flounder make their annual spring migration into the Bay.
Fish diversity in Chesapeake Bay is generally lowest in mid-winter.
Survey scientists record the first verified record of Rock Seabass in Chesapeake Bay.
The VIMS Juvenile Fish Survey team records two species infrequently seen in Chesapeake Bay: Star Drum and Gray Snapper.
Survey personnel identify several Crested Blennies, a fish species previously unrecorded from Chesapeake Bay, but common in waters south of Virginia.
Survey scientists record several intriguing species including Bluespotted Cornetfish, Orange Filefish, Silver Seatrout, and Blue Runners.
Large Atlantic Croaker and Summer Flounder, a 60-lb. Black Drum, and high densities of skates and rays throughout the lower Bay.
More large Atlantic Croaker, the first Spiny Dogfish since 2002, and the first Roughtail Stingray since 1993.
Croaker, Weakfish, and the year's first Northern Puffer.
The VIMS Juvenile Fish survey now regularly catches Blue Catfish in the upper York River.