Fish ID?

[bc214]

Hello All,

I was looking through some video footage from New Jersey and found a few of these fish:



I grew up freshwater fishing, but I'm limited when it comes to NJ saltwater. Can someone ID this fish for me? During night dives, I find these sitting on the bottom motionless unless you get very close.

Any clues?

-BC

 

[DivemasterDennis]

Pigfish, aka grunt, is a good bet.

 

[rockystock1]

100% pigfish


Mike

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Centropristis Striata

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

Try this -
Scuba Diving - New Jersey & Long Island New York - dive Wreck Valley - Marine Biology - Oceanic Basses & Porgies
you can scroll down through it...

 

[agilis]

Black Sea Bass, seems like night coloration. They also darken quite a lot as they get bigger. dumpsterDiver's ID is correct: Centropristis striata. Very common in NJ, juveniles everywhere in summer in inlets and bays. Tough skin and scales, so a chore to clean, but absolutely first class firm white meat.

 

[Steve_C]

Black Sea Bass, seems like night coloration. They also darken quite a lot as they get bigger. dumpsterDiver's ID is correct: Centropristis striata. Very common in NJ, juveniles everywhere in summer in inlets and bays. Tough skin and scales, so a chore to clean, but absolutely first class firm white meat.

I go with black sea bass. The coloration is perfect. A pigfish has a more even color and a pattern around its forehead. Here are a black sea bass and a pigfish. Note lines on head of pigfish. Not my best picks of either. Pigfish can be quite photogentic

 

[bc214]

Thank you all very much. Black Sea Bass it is, based on what was posted.

It was in a NJ inlet at night.

Thanks again,
-BC