Goby

[waynew]

While jigging for sauger last Saturday in the Cumberland River below the dam, my son foul hooked a "goby". It was about 4 1/2" long. Anyone know long they have they been in the river?

[JD7.62]

Are you sure it was a goby? Can you give a more detailed description?

[birdstrike]

Didn't know they were in there, found this on the web:

"How can I prevent the spread of Round Gobies?

Learn to identify gobies. To enable biologists to track the spread of round gobies, up-to-date information on new sightings is needed. Your assistance is extremely important. If you catch a round goby preserve the fish either in alcohol (grocery store rubbing alcohol is fine) or by freezing it. Then contact your state fisheries management agency or a Sea Grant institute. Be prepared to describe when and where you caught the fish (the name of the lake or stream, and the nearest town). New sightings can be confirmed only by identification of a captured fish. Verbal reports cannot be used because sculpins can be easily mistaken for gobies."

[Shimano4Life]

Gobies in the river below the dam? WOW! We can thank dirty livewells for yet another invasive species.....but at least the smallies will get fat on them!

[JD7.62]

I wouldnt jump to conclusions just yet. I wouldnt be surprised at all if the fish was mis-IDed as a goby.

[Ky Trophy Fish]

Look up "sculpin,"a type of small fish that is in the Cumberland River watershed.They somewhat look like a goby.Trout love them! They stay close to the bottom.Have snagged some, caught a few on worms and a few on very small jigs.

[Shimano4Life]

I agree. Probably misidentified. Gobies are found mainly in the Great Lakes areas, right?

[TEE]

Would bet it was a Sculpin also....

[JD7.62]

Weve got to be careful when we use a broad term such as "goby" to describe one fish. Gobies are found all over the world in fresh and saltwater. They are characterized by a large round head, two distinct lobes in the dorsal fin (the first lobe is considerably smaller then the second), and fused pelvic fins that kind of function as a "suction cup." Many are native to the US, though I am pretty sure none are native to KY.

The goby of concern in the Great Lakes region is the round goby, Neogobius melanostomus .