fish ID book recommendations?

[SCMZ]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a basic fish identification guide that covers the Monterey area. I'd love to get a little better at putting names on all the great fish I see! Any recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

See http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/ba_diving/bibliography.html for a list.

I'd recommend Humann if you are going to have just one fish ID book. Be sure to get the second edition.

 

[TSandM]

Hands down, the best fish ID book I own is Milton Love's Certainly More than You Want to Know about the Fishes of the Pacific Coast.. The book is delightfully written, profusely illustrated, and includes many interesting vignettes about the fish. It's also very funny. If you can even remotely envision a fish ID book you would read for fun before bed, this book is it. I absolutely cannot say enough good things about it.

 

[mattaphore]

I recently came across "Pacific Coast (Audubon Society Nature Guides)". It's got a picture section for identifying the critters followed by a written section with more information. It's not going to be the most comprehensive book out there on all the fishes of the Pacific Coast, but it has served me well in identifying the shellfish, sponges, rockfish, inverts, and birds I've encountered so far in Monterey/Carmel

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

I'd agree that Love is probably the BEST fish ID book, but I wouldn't recommend it as a FIRST ID book. It's not really organized for the newb. Humann is.

I have the Audubon book. I don't use it. There's a message there.

 

[opisthobranch]

Coastal Fishes of the Pacific Northwest, Revised and Expanded Second Edition by Andy Lamb and Phil Edgell is worth having but is more for the PNW than California (lots of overlap with our area though). The Humann and Love books are also great.

Disclaimer: I've made minor unpaid contributions to all 3 books so I'm a bit biased.

Clinton

 

[SCMZ]

Thanks everyone! I ordered the Humann book and will check out the others too.