Sam's Fishing Lifelist

I decided to start lifelisting since it's fun and I mostly catch and release -- my photos were becoming quite disorganized and I was curious to find out how many different kinds of fish I've caught. Unfortunately this led me to a few realizations:

1. I didn't take pictures of every species I've ever caught. I'm regretting it now, because I would feel bad if I included those fish. I'll have to get them again.
2. Some fish look different within the same species; e.g male vs female, barred vs unbarred, anadromous vs freshwater only.
3. I've hooked up with some fish but failed to land and get a picture of them.

At any rate I'll catch, photograph, and release the fish I missed / failed to get pictures of in due time.

Note: This list contains (usually) the first fish of each species that I managed to photograph, chronologically. The fish pictured is not usually the largest of the species that I caught, nor is it the first of that species that I ever caught -- it's just (usually) the first to get on film. This list is also not that reflective of how much I fish, because I mostly do catch the same kinds of fish at my local spots. I don't go super out of my way to add species to this list. I haven't been bitten by the microfishing game just yet, for example :)

Unique Species List (Photographed)

61 unique species caught and fully identified as of November 19, 2024. 4 additional species caught but not fully identified, and more caught but not recorded in pictures (thus omitted here).

#	Date	Fish Species	Latin Name	Method	Location	Tags	Notes
1	2016-05-01	California Halibut	Paralichthys californicus	Live-lined anchovy	SF bay	Inshore, Flatfish, Gamefish	On a live-lined anchovy. Caught in SF bay on a charter boat.
2	2016-06-17	Pacific Mackerel	Scomber japonicus	Sabiki rig	Pacifica Pier	Pelagic, Baitfish	On a sabiki rig. Caught at Pacifica Pier.
3	2016-07-24	Pacific Pompano	Peprilus simillimus	Sabiki rig	Pacifica Pier	Inshore, Special/Rare	On a sabiki rig. Caught at Pacifica Pier; almost mistook it for a surfperch! These things are rare in NorCal.
4	2017-05-13	Walleye Surfperch	Hyperprosopon argenteum	Sabiki rig	Santa Cruz Wharf	Inshore	On a sabiki rig. Caught at Santa Cruz Wharf.
5	2017-05-26	Yellow Perch	Perca flavescens	Inline spinner	Charles River, Cambridge MA	Freshwater	On an inline spinner. Caught in the Charles River, Cambridge MA.
6	2017-05-26	White Perch	Morone americana	Inline spinner	Charles River, Cambridge MA	Freshwater	On an inline spinner. Caught in the Charles River, Cambridge MA. Darker variety.
7	2017-05-28	Largemouth Bass	Micropterus salmoides	Inline spinner	Charles River, Cambridge MA	Freshwater, Gamefish	On an inline spinner. Caught in the Charles River, Cambridge MA.
8	2017-07-03	Bat Ray	Myliobatis californica	Cutbait (mackerel)	Near Channel Islands	Ray	On cutbait (mackerel). Caught near the channel islands in a sailboat. Fuzzy image was screencapped from video.
9	2017-08-16	Mahi Mahi (Dorado) (Dolphin)	Coryphaena hippurus	Wood plug (trolled)	Todos Santos, MX	Pelagic, Gamefish	On a wood plug, trolled. Caught off the coast of Todos Santos, MX on a panga boat.
10	2017-08-16	Pacific Yellowfin Tuna	Thunnus albacares	Wood plug (trolled)	Todos Santos, MX	Pelagic, Gamefish	On a wood plug, trolled. Caught off the coast of Todos Santos, MX on a panga boat.
11	2017-09-23	Green Sunfish	Lepomis cyanellus	Inline spinner	Guadalupe River, San Jose CA	Freshwater	On an inline spinner. Caught in the Guadalupe River, San Jose CA.
12	2018-05-04	Queenfish	Seriphus politus	Shrimp	San Diego, CA	Inshore	On shrimp. Caught off a pier in San Diego, CA.
13	2018-06-08	Northern Pike	Esox lucius	Inline spinner	Bay Lake, MN	Freshwater, Gamefish	On an inline spinner. Caught in Bay Lake, MN.
14	2018-06-08	Rock Bass	Ambloplites rupestris	Inline spinner	Bay Lake, MN	Freshwater	On an inline spinner. Caught in Bay Lake, MN.
15	2018-06-09	Bluegill	Lepomis macrochirus	Inline spinner	Bay Lake, MN	Freshwater	On an inline spinner. Caught in Bay Lake, MN.
16	2018-11-22	Spotted Bay Bass	Paralabrax maculatofasciatus	3/8oz underspin	San Diego Bay, CA	Inshore	On 3/8oz underspin. Caught in San Diego Bay, CA.
17	2018-12-24	Rainbow Trout	Oncorhynchus mykiss	Nightcrawler	Rogue River, OR	Freshwater, Gamefish	On a nightcrawler. Caught in the Rogue River, OR.
18	2019-03-30	Jacksmelt	Atherinopsis californiensis	Sabiki rig	Santa Barbara, CA	Inshore, Baitfish	On sabiki rig. Caught in Santa Barbara, CA.
19	2019-07-05	Yellow Bullhead Catfish	Ameiurus natalis	Hot dog on bottom	Gompers Lagoon, Chicago IL	Freshwater	On hot dog on the bottom. Caught at Gompers Lagoon, Chicago IL.
20	2019-07-06	Black Crappie	Pomoxis nigromaculatus	Hot dog under bobber	Gompers Lagoon, Chicago IL	Freshwater, Gamefish	On hot dog under a bobber. Caught at Gompers Lagoon, Chicago IL.
21	2019-08-18	Barred Surfperch	Amphistichus argenteus		Half Moon Bay, CA	Inshore, Gamefish	Caught at Half Moon Bay, CA.
22	2019-08-30	Northern Pikeminnow	Ptychocheilus oregonensis		Rogue River, OR	Freshwater	Caught in the Rogue River, OR.
23	2019-09-29	Leopard Shark	Triakis semifasciata	Squid/salmon combo bait	SF Bay	Shark	On squid/salmon combo bait. Caught in the SF Bay, on a friend's boat.
24	2019-09-29	Sevengill Shark	Notorynchus cepedianus	Squid/salmon combo bait	SF Bay	Shark	On squid/salmon combo bait. Caught in the SF Bay, on a friend's boat.
25	2019-10-20	Common Carp	Cyprinus carpio	Whole kernel corn	Stevens Creek Reservoir, Cupertino CA	Freshwater	On whole kernel corn. Caught at Stevens Creek Reservoir, Cupertino CA.
26	2019-11-23	Bluefin Trevally	Caranx melampygus	Whipping rig, curly tailed grub	Anini Beach, Kauai	Inshore	On a whipping rig, curly tailed grub. Caught at Anini Beach, Kauai.
27	2019-11-24	Pacific Jack Crevalle	Caranx caninus	Whipping rig, curly tailed grub	Anini Beach, Kauai	Inshore	On a whipping rig, curly tailed grub. Caught at Anini Beach, Kauai.
28	2019-11-25	Bluespotted Cornetfish	Fistularia commersonii	Whipping rig, curly tailed grub	Anini Beach, Kauai	Inshore, Special/Rare	On a whipping rig, curly tailed grub. Caught at Anini Beach, Kauai.
29	2020-02-29	Gray/Bermuda Sea Chub	Kyphosus sectatrix/bigibbus	Bait	Riviera Maya, MX		On bait. Caught at Riviera Maya, MX.
30	2020-03-01	Atlantic Blue Tang	Acanthurus coeruleus	Bait	Riviera Maya, MX		On bait. Caught at Riviera Maya, MX.
31	2020-03-01	White Grunt	Haemulon plumierii	Bait	Riviera Maya MX		On bait. Caught at Riviera Maya MX.
32	2020-03-01	Mangrove Snapper	Lutjanus griseus	Bait	Riviera Maya, MX		On bait. Caught at Riviera Maya, MX.
33	2020-03-02	Sergeant Major	Abudefduf saxatilis	Bait	Riviera Maya, MX		On bait. Caught at Riviera Maya, MX.
34	2020-08-22	White Croaker	Genyonemus lineatus	Sand crab	Aptos, CA	Inshore	On a sand crab. Caught in Aptos, CA.
35	2020-09-09	Brook Trout	Salvelinus fontinalis	Fly	East Gallatin River, Bozeman, Montana	Freshwater, Gamefish	On the fly. Caught in Bozeman, Montana.
36	2020-09-09	Mountain Whitefish	Prosopium williamsoni	Fly	East Gallatin River, Bozeman, Montana	Freshwater	On the fly. Caught in Bozeman, Montana. The adipose fin is the giveaway that it isn't a sucker -- it's actually a salmonid!
37	2020-09-10	Shellcracker	Lepomis microlophus		Lake Josephine, Montana	Freshwater	Caught on a little worm in Montana's Lake Josephine.
38	2020-09-19	Smallmouth Bass	Micropterus dolomieu	1/8oz jig w/ paddletail swimbait	Allegheny River, Pittsburgh, PA	Freshwater, Gamefish	On a 1/8oz jig w/ paddletail swimbait. Caught in the Allegheny River from the banks of Pittsburgh, PA.
39	2020-10-03	Atlantic Menhaden	Brevoortia tyrannus	Deadly dick spoon	Sandy Hook, NJ	Inshore, Baitfish	Snagged on my deadly dick spoon when going for stripers; normally don't count snags but you can't really catch Menhaden any other way + it was unintentional. Caught on the surf in Sandy Hook, NJ.
40	2020-10-10	Striped Bass	Morone saxatilis	Bucktail	Quonochontaug, CT	Gamefish	Note to those silly striper guys: I mainly use a fish grip for their benefit. Much easier to get the hook off and avoid touching them with dry hands. On a bucktail in Quonochontaug, CT.
41	2020-11-08	Tautog	Tautoga onitis	Sand crab on high-low rig	Manasquan Inlet, NJ		On a sand crab on a high-low rig. Released quickly, sad I didn't have wet hands but was high up from the water. Caught in the Manasquan Inlet, NJ.
42	2020-11-09	Hickory Shad	Alosa mediocris	Sand eel fly as bucktail teaser	Sandy Hook, NJ	Inshore, Baitfish	On a sand eel fly used as a bucktail teaser. Caught on the surf in Sandy Hook, NJ.
43	2020-11-26	Guadalupe Bass	Micropterus treculii	Drop shot worm	Colorado River, Austin, TX	Freshwater, Gamefish	On a drop shot worm. Caught in the Colorado River from Austin, TX.
44	2020-11-26	Longear Sunfish	Lepomis megalotis	Tiny drop shot	Colorado River, Austin, TX	Freshwater	On a tiny drop shot. Caught in the Colorado River from Austin, TX.
45	2021-08-09	Stocky Hawkfish	Cirrhitus pinnulatus	Whipping rig with grub	Anini Beach, Kauai HI	Scorpionfishes	Caught on a whipping rig with a grub. Anini Beach, Kauai HI.
46	2021-08-10	Bluestripe Snapper	Lutjanus kasmira	Hawaiian Angler Strip	Kalihiwai beach, Kauai HI		Caught on a Hawaiian Angler Strip, blue, with tiny hook. Kalihiwai beach, Kauai HI.
47	2021-08-10	Christmas Wrasse	Thalassoma trilobatum	Shrimp	Tunnels beach, Kauai HI	Wrasse	Caught on shrimp. Tunnels beach, Kauai HI. Note: as of August 2021 there were not yet regulations for fishing on this beach, but in the future it will probably require a permit.
48	2021-08-11	Blackspot Damselfish	Abudefduf sordidus	Shrimp	Tunnels beach, Kauai HI		Caught on shrimp. Tunnels beach, Kauai HI.
49	2021-08-11	Saddle Wrasse	Thalassoma duperrey	Shrimp	Tunnels beach, Kauai	Wrasse	Caught on shrimp. Tunnels beach, Kauai.
50	2021-08-12	Bigeye Scad	Selar crumenophthalmus	Hawaiian Angler Strip	Moloaa beach, Kauai HI	Baitfish	Caught on a hawaiian angler strip in aqua blue, with 4lbs test leader about 8ft long, at Moloaa beach, Kauai HI. Very tricky fish to catch.
51	2022-10-30	Spotted Bass	Micropterus punctulatus	Keitech paddletail	Lexington Reservoir, CA	Freshwater, Gamefish	Caught on a keitech paddletail in Lexington Reservoir, CA, near the dam but not on it.
52	2023-04-11	Californian Anchovy	Engraulis mordax	Tiny sabiki rig	Pacifica, CA	Inshore, Baitfish	Caught on a tiny sabiki rig off the pier. Pacifica, CA.
53	2023-09-07	Ladyfish	Elops Saurus	3/8oz orange/white goofy jig	Pensacola, FL	Inshore	Caught on a 3/8oz orange/white goofy jig tipped with orange/white sand flea "fish bites." Jigged with pop-pop-pause pattern.
54	2023-09-08	Gulf Flounder	Paralichthys albigutta	Olive/white sand eel teaser	Pensacola, FL	Flatfish, Inshore	Caught on an olive/white sand eel teaser tied above my goofy jig. Identify this using the dark spots near the tail - they form a triangle.
55	2023-09-08	Florida Pompano	Trachinotus carolinus	Goofy jig	Pensacola, FL	Inshore	Caught on goofy jig tipped with sand flea fishbites. Orange/white.
56	2023-09-09	Crevalle Jack	Caranx hippos	Goofy jig	Pensacola, FL	Inshore, Gamefish	Caught on goofy jig tipped with sand flea fishbites. Orange/white.
57	2023-09-09	Leatherjacket	Oligoplites saurus	Goofy jig	Pensacola, FL	Inshore	In the Jack family; caught on goofy jig tipped with sand flea fishbites. Orange/white.
58	2023-09-10	Hardhead Catfish	Arius felis	Size 16 sabiki	Pensacola, FL	Inshore	Caught a lot of these on size 16 sabiki tipped with finger mullet, at night.
59	2023-09-12	Northern Kingfish	Menticirrhus saxatilis	Sand flea fishbites	Pensacola, FL	Inshore	Caught mostly on sand flea fishbites on size four hook.
60	2023-09-12	Gulf Kingfish	Menticirrhus littoralis	Various methods	Pensacola, FL	Inshore	There were a lot of these and I caught them on goofy jigs, size 0.75L silver holo deadly dick, and sand flea fishbites on a size four hook.
61	2024-09-05	Summer Flounder	Paralichthys dentatus	Drop-shot bunker chunk	Sandy Hook, NJ	Flatfish, Inshore, Gamefish	Caught on a drop-shot bunker chunk (lol) near a rocky bottomed stretch of Sandy Hook, NJ. This was a keeper.

Variations

These are not unique species but are different versions of species on the unique list.

• Rainbow Trout - Steelhead - Caught at Stevens Creek Reservoir, Cupertino CA. Rare native (not stocked).
• Barred Surfperch - unbarred Version - Caught on the northern california coastline near Daly City.
• Black Crappie - light colored version - Caught at Stevens Creek Reservoir, Cupertino CA. Despite being light in color, this is indeed a black crappie (7-8 dorsal spines vs 5-6 on a white crappie; not barred pattern).
• Gray/Bermuda Chub - different color - It's actually impossible to tell the difference between a Bermuda (Kyphosus sectatrix) or Gray chub (Kyphosus Biggibus) without counting gill rakers, so I will never know which one I caught -- I'm counting them as a single species since they're a complex now. The one on my lifelist is more mature.

Not on the list because no picture but fish I've definitely caught

• Vermillion Rockfish
• Blue Rockfish
• Black Rockfish
• Pumpkinseed Sunfish
• Redbreast Sunfish
• Atlantic Stingray (when I was young)
• Topsmelt silverside
• Channel Catfish (high school, Holmdel Park Pond)

Fish I hooked up with but did not land

• Barracuda - 6ft ate the 4-5lbs fish at the end of my line, pulled out drag until my 20lbs line frayed from its teeth.
• Cutthroat trout - Jumped out of the water when it hit my hopper near mammoth lakes.

Species Specific Size Records

• Largemouth Bass - 10lbs

Fish Caught on Special Techniques / Lures

• First Topwater Bass - Zara Spook
• First Rainbow Trout on the Fly - Zebra Midge
• First Largemouth Bass on the Fly - Black wooly bugger
• First Bluegill on the Fly - Brown clouser/bugger hybrid

Yet to be identified

• Lizardfish, Hawaii (Synodontidae ???) - On a ceramic popper bigger than itself! Caught at Anini Beach, Kauai. Not sure if I can get a better identification :(
• Lizardfish, California (Synodontidae ???) - On a sabiki rig from Pacifica Pier.
• Some kind of needlefish in Kauai, HI
• Another needlefish, probably same as above
• Looks like an alewife or smelt type thing, Riviera Maya MX
• Split tail, forgot to get a closeup. Riviera Maya MX

How I identify fish

I haven't caught that many rare fish, so mostly they are easy to recognize. But a few times now I've had to defer to experts or scour through indices. Here are some of the tools I use:

• Fishbase
• INaturalist
• CA DFW
  • Surfperch Identification