OutdoorNebraska

OutdoorNebraska.gov | 29 Fish ID A guide to commonly misidentified Nebraska fish species. TEMPERATE BASS White bass – Silvery, typically flat-bodied fish with 3 stair-stepped anal fin spines, 2 separate dorsal fins, broken horizontal lines along the sides, and 1 tooth patch on base of tongue. Wiper – Similar to the white bass but differs by having prominent, broken and unbroken horizontal lines along the sides and usually 2 tooth patches on base of tongue. * White perch – Silvery, flat bodied fish with 3 anal fin spines that are not stair-stepped (second and third anal spine length nearly equal); sides nearly plain or may have faint stripes; 2 dorsal fins that are slightly connected; and no teeth on base of tongue. * This nongame fish can be harmful to the state's aquatic resources. Report catching or seeing these fish to Game and Parks. They cannot be possessed or transported live. * Yellow bass – Silvery-yellowish, flat bodied fish with 3 anal fin spines; sides with several dark, prominent horizontal lines along the sides (broken and offset above front of anal fin); 2 dorsal fins that are slightly connected; and no teeth on base of tongue. * This nongame fish can be harmful to the state's aquatic resources. Report catching or seeing these fish to Game and Parks. They cannot be possessed or transported live. CATFISH Channel catfish – Olive-brown or slate-blue, scaleless fish having dark spots, an adipose fin, 8 barbels that are used to locate food, and a deeply forked tail. Its anal fin has 24-29 rays with a rounded margin. Breeding males become dark blue and are often misidentified as a blue catfish. Flathead catfish – Scaleless fish having a broad flat head with a projecting lower jaw, an adipose fin, 8 barbels that are used to locate food, and a tail fin with a squarish margin. Pale yellow to light brown colored, often mottled with dark brown or black if from clear water. Blue catfish – Scaleless, bluish-silver fish having no dark spots, an adipose fin, 8 barbels that are used to locate food, and a deeply forked tail. Its anal fin has more than 30 rays with a straight margin. STURGEON Lake sturgeon – Primitive fish having several rows of thorny scales or plates and 4 barbels near its mouth, which is located far back under the short, cone-shaped snout. Barbels are not fringed and lower lip has 2 lobes. Threatened species, illegal to possess – rarest of Nebraska's sturgeons. Pallid sturgeon – Primitive fish having several rows of thorny scales or plates and 4 barbels near its mouth, which is located far back under the long, pointed snout. Barbels are fringed and lower lip has 4 lobes. Bases of outer barbels usually behind bases of inner barbels and belly without plates. Endangered species, illegal to possess. Shovelnose sturgeon – Primitive fish having several rows of thorny scales or plates and 4 barbels near its mouth, which is located far back under the flattened, shovel-shaped snout. Barbels are fringed and lower lip has 4 lobes. Bases of outer barbels in line with or ahead of bases of inner barbels and belly is covered with small plates (except in young). In Nebraska, if a sturgeon weighs more than 4 pounds, it most likely is a pallid sturgeon. Pallid Sturgeon Lake Sturgeon Shovelnose Sturgeon White Bass Striped Bass Hybrid (Wiper) Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish White Perch Yellow Bass – all fish images copyright Joseph R. Tomelleri

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