Late season “exotics” at the Jersey Shore.
“It’s a banded rudderfish.” That’s often the favorite social media reply to a photo of a strange summer catch framed by the “Fish ID please” question. Strangely enough, I didn’t receive a single banded rudderfish photo all season here at The Fisherman. Some cobia, a potential record blowfish or two, and the beefy barrelfish that appeared on our September 30th weekly cover, among other somewhat regular summer visitors.
Stargazers are a regular catch in the summer surf, while lizardfish and smooth puffers are often encountered by saltwater anglers in the New Jersey, Delaware Bay region every year. Black drum are clearly expanding their range every season, as too it seems are spot (aka, lafayette or Cape May Goodies) and sheepshead. But during the fall of 2024, I must say there were a handful of fish reported by local anglers that had me scratching my head and seeking advice from professionals.
By the way, big thanks to Nick DeGennaro and Zach Bellapigna from the IGFA for helping identify a few of the stranger than normal critters in this week’s photo gallery; and thanks to you both as well for not pulling my chain with “banded rudderfish” on every reply!
