PDF, 7mb - Arizona Game and Fish Department

Arizona Fish IdentificationCatfish FamilyChannel CatfishDescription: Scattered black spots on a silveror gray colored back and sides with a whitebelly. Few spots on large adults. Smooth,scaleless skin. 8 barbels or “whiskers.” Shortbase on small adipose fin. Deeply forkedtail. Anal fin has 24 to 30 rays and is slightlyrounded. Length: 10 to 35 inches. Weight: upto 30 pounds.Flathead CatfishDescription: Back and sides mottled,dark-brown to yellow-brown; belly is yellowish-white.Head is broad and flat with smalleyes. Large mouth, lower jaw projecting beyondthe upper jaw. Adipose fin is large; Tailfin is flat or slightly notched. Length: 12 to 50inches. Weight: up to 70 pounds.Bullhead (black, yellow, brown)Description: Body is yellow-olive to brown onback with yellowish sides, and yellow to whitebelly. Slight to no mottling. Chin barbels arealways light in color, either white or pale yellow.Anal fin is moderately long with a straightprofile; Tail fin is rounded. Length: 6 to 16inches. Weight: up to 3 pounds.Pike and Perch FamilyWalleyeDescription: Back is yellow-olive with a brassycast. Sides brassy-yellow with dark mottling.Belly is white. Dark spot at rear of spiny dorsalfin. Anal fin and lower lobe of tail fin are white.Eyes are opaque-silver in color. Length: 12 to28 inches. Weight: up to 14 pounds.Northern PikeDescription: Back and sides, dusky olive-greenwith rows of light oval spots. Dorsal, anal andtail fin have round to oblong darkened spots.Dorsal fin located far back on an elongatedbody. Large canine-like teeth. Cheeks completelyscaled, only upper half of the gill coveris scaled. Length: 12 to 45 inches. Weight: upto 30 pounds.Yellow PerchDescription: Back olive-green; sides brassyyellowwith 6 to 9 dark vertical bars; Belly iswhite. Anal fin, pectoral and pelvic fins areamber-orange tinted. Small teeth, not caninelike.Soft (rear) dorsal fin has 12 to 13 rays.Length: 4 to 12 inches. Weight: up to 1 pound.Minnow FamilyCommon CarpDescription: Back olive-yellow with yellowishgold sides. Scales on back and upper sides aredark-edged, with a dark spot at the base. Thedorsal fin has 17 to 22 rays. One saw-toothedspine at front of long dorsal and anal fin. Twobarbels at each corner of the mouth on the upperjaw. Large adults have reddish-orange analand tail fin. Length: 10 to 40 inches. Weight:up to 40 pounds.Roundtail Chub (native)Description: Body is thick and streamlined,dark olive-gray above with silver sides. Mouthextends to front of eye. Dorsal fin and analfin usually have 8 to10 rays. Large forked tailfin. Breeding males develop red or orangecoloration on lower half of cheek and basesof paired fins. Length: 8 to 18 inches. Weight:up to 3 pounds. neW: Catch-and-releaseonly, statewide.White Amur or grass carpSimilar to common carp only in general color(brassy yellow) and large scales. Notable differencesinclude no barbels on bony mouth,no spine on a short dorsal fin or anal fin, moreelongated body, less yellow in color, tail darkerand more deeply forked. These fish are highlyeffective weed eaters and are stocked to controlnuisance weeds and algae. Length: 12 to 42inches. Weight: up to 40 pounds. neW: 1 fish,30 inch minimum statewide.36 Arizona Game and Fish Department • www.azgfd.gov