PDF, 7mb - Arizona Game and Fish Department

Arizona Fish IdentificationArizona is home to more than 85 species of fish. Knowing what fishspecies you are catching is not only fun, it is also important to correctlyidentify the fish you catch so you can abide by the daily bag limits,length limits and other regulations. Fish coloration, by itself, is not agood basis for identifying fish since it varies widely and there is considerableoverlap between species. When in doubt about the identityor legal length, play it safe and return the fish to the water unharmedimmediately. The following, by family, are fish species most commonlysought or encountered by anglers.General Statewide Bag Limits Per DayTo determine daily bag and possession limits for each fish species, referto page 6, Statewide Daily Bag and Possession limits. Bag limits may varyon some bodies of water, so be sure to also check out fishing waterslisted under Special Regulations (pages 12–28) to find out if bag andsize limits are different on the body of water you plan to fish.Fish art by Mary Hirsch and Randall D. BabbTrout Family (includes all species of trout, brook trout, and grayling)Rainbow TroutDescription: Olive to bluish on the back, silverysides, a pink band on the sides from headto tail. Many small black spots on back, sides,adipose and dorsal fin. Distinct radiating rowsof black spots on tail fin. Generally, no spotson pectoral, pelvic and anal fins. Length: 8 to28 inches. Weight: up to 15 pounds.Cutthroat TroutDescription: Body shape similar to rainbowtrout. Back and sides are lightly spotted; Dorsal,adipose and tail fins are heavily spotted. Redor reddish-orange slash on throat. Length: 8 to20 inches. Weight: up to 6 pounds.Brook TroutDescription: Gray to olive-green on the back.Vermiculations or worm-like markings on theback and dorsal fin. Sides lighter in color withblue halos around pink or red spots. Whiteedge on lower fins and lower tail. Length: 4to 18 inches. Weight: up to 4 pounds.Brown TroutDescription: Olive-brown with yellowish sides.Some orange or red spots on the sides, spotsoften encircled with light yellow or whiteDark spots on back and sides. Tail fin usuallyunspotted or vaguely spotted. Adipose finusually orange or reddish. Length: 6 to 30inches. Weight: up to 20 pounds.Apache Trout (native)Description: The Apache is one of Arizona’s twonative trout species and is the Arizona statefish. Body color is yellowish-gold at the top ofthe head and the back is a dark olive. Dorsal,anal and pelvic fins are white tipped with dark,bold spots on dorsal and tail fin. Spotting on thebody is sparse and irregular and may extendbelow the lateral line. Two small black spots oneither side of pupil give appearance of blackstripe through eye. Length: 6 to 20 inches.Weight: up to 5 pounds.GraylingDescription: The dorsal fin is large, dark-gray,blotched with pale spots, with cross-rowsof deep blue spots and edged with red ororange. The dorsal fin has 17 to 25 rays. Thetail fin is forked. The body has scattered blackspots on silver-gray, sometimes pink sides.Scales larger than for trout. Length: 10 to 14inches. Weight: up to 1.5 pound.34 Arizona Game and Fish Department • www.azgfd.gov