What kind of fish is this?

[Chaos]

Found them inside the stomach of a Lingcod in Juan De Fuca

 

[trophywife]

wow is that ever cool,, no idea!!

 

[trendsetter]

Awesome! That looks like a grunt sculpin but maybe not. I didn't know they were around here (of course maybe that's not what it is).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamphocottidae

If I were you I would send those pics to the Vancouver Aquarium and see if they can identify it. Who knows, maybe even an unidentified species.

Edit: Actually I'm pretty much 100% sure that's what it is. Compare the tail markings. Identical.

 

[Chaos]

You may be right it could be a grunt sculpin . Maybe it got washed over from japan. LOL

 

[Oglthorpe]

Yes, it's a grunt sculpin. I've seen them while diving. Cool little fish.

 

[Chaos]

Its head is hard as a rock , like its wearing a helmet . Thanks for the replies .

 

[bee15]

grunt sculpin are fromcalifornia to bering sea max size to 3inchescommon in tide poolsand even down to 90 meters, rhamphoscottus,or grunt sculpin, from fishes of the pacific coast by hart

 

[bee15]

grunt sculpin are fromcalifornia to bering sea max size to 3inchescommon in tide poolsand even down to 90 meters, rhamphoscottus,or grunt sculpin, from fishes of the pacific coast by hartstrange looking fishvery interesting

 

[jeffywestcoast]

Very cool !

 

[fish stalker]

that is the crazyest fish ive ever seen! thanks sharing! man I want to dive

 

[Vanisle]

About 40 years ago, as a young boy, we were fishing off the Co-op docks in Prince Rupert in the annual Legion fishing derby. I hooked something large and thought maybe I had a halibut. When I finally winched it to the surface, I was dismayed to see it was an old tire, all covered with barnacles and anemones. I threw it onto the dock, and this funny little fish flipped out. I scooped him up and put it in a large pail of seawater, and took it to the Legion and entered it in the derby.
I was informed at that time that is was a Grunt Sculpin and that I had won the "most unusual fish" category. Prize was a case of 10w-30 motor oil (back when oil still came in cans) My Dad was happy, as his old van consumed a lot of oil.
I still remember that funny little unusual fish, swimming up and down in that pail like a little seahorse. Later I took him back down to the docks and let him go. I had not thought of that little fish for many years until seeing this thread. Thanks for sharing.

 

[bigsbee]

how did it taste?

 

[outback]

caught one of these things live in a prawn trap a couple years ago(saanich inlet) .. awesome little fish. Kept Him in my native reef tank for years till i passed the tank on.

 

[demco99]

caught one of these things live in a prawn trap a couple years ago(saanich inlet) .. awesome little fish. Kept Him in my native reef tank for years till i passed the tank on.

what is a native reef tank?

 

[TinCup]

Thats why I love the Ocean, never know what u might get. Originally im from North Saskatchewan, great fishing, but only a few species

 

[trophywife]

what is a native reef tank?

a salt water tank with native (local) species...

very cool by the way!!!