Minnows Sp? ID?

[BRYANT]

What is this? Looks exactly like saltwater smelt. It's about 2-3" each. From Castaic Lake, California.

 

[WahooWillie]

I am unsure of sp in Cal, but you no doubt have silversides of some sort. Check out inland silversides and brook silversides to see if they are in your area. All silversides I have encountered are all very very fragile when handling them and transporting them - good job getting them home alive!

 

[Wulfonce]

I was going to say River chub. But CA? I dont think they exist that far south.

 

[Noto]

I agree with Willie, they are silversides. I pulled up a list of California freshwater fishes which listed inland silversides and topsmelt as the only atherinids there; they sure aren't topsmelts, so I guess that leaves the good ol' inland silverside.

Wulfonce- if you look closely you can see that these fish have two dorsal fins, which no cyprinids (at least in the US) have.

 

[BRYANT]

I am unsure of sp in Cal, but you no doubt have silversides of some sort. Check out inland silversides and brook silversides to see if they are in your area. All silversides I have encountered are all very very fragile when handling them and transporting them - good job getting them home alive!

Thanks for the clarification. These are very very fragile. I picked one up from the net to observe and the body bent in half...

I agree with Willie, they are silversides. I pulled up a list of California freshwater fishes which listed inland silversides and topsmelt as the only atherinids there; they sure aren't topsmelts, so I guess that leaves the good ol' inland silverside.

Wulfonce- if you look closely you can see that these fish have two dorsal fins, which no cyprinids (at least in the US) have.

Thanks for the ID

 

[vlcek81]

Dang did you kill it?

 

[BRYANT]

Dang did you kill it?

I had about easily 30+. I used some for fishing as bait, some were used as feeders, some died, and these are the remaining ones.

 

[Louie]

I had about easily 30+. I used some for fishing as bait, some were used as feeders, some died, and these are the remaining ones.

Seems many use them for bait but pretty fish worth keeping .

 

[WattaMelon]

Silversides! Try to not kill the rest...that's a good find.