What IS this fish??

[spot]

I didn't know whether to post this here or in the fishing forum or wherever... Anyway, my buddy is out fishing right now and sent me pictures from his phone of this fish asking what the heck it was.... I have no idea... it has a blue mouth... any ideas??

 

[mike b]

looks like a bowfin but Ive been wrong before

 

[spot]

I thought it might be from the look of the fins... but they look smaller than usual, and the blue mouth is completely throwing me for a loop.

 

[Steveo McNello]

Its a Bowfin. 100%. Caught two this weekend.

 

[spot]

He said someone else identified it as a bowfin too. Is it normal for them to have a blue mouth like that?

 

[dparks87]

A blue mouth on a bowfin, I never knew they had such a thing! I hope someone with more exp. chimes in. Maybe its a breeding thing?

 

[bjbass]

It is a bowfin, but a blue mouth?

 

[Mr.Catfish]

It's a bowfin.From what I heard the blue mouth is a soon to be spawning male.

 

[JFishNerd]

I want one.

 

[SnaKeheAdSrAwSomE]

Mr. catfish is right.
Spawning males develop blue-green mouths when they're ready to spawn.