denise
08-05-2008, 08:17 PM
The hogchoker,Trinectes maculates, is a member of the sole family of fish, and is commonly seen in Florida’s clear springs and rivers. It is a flat fish which spends most of its life on one side. They are usually brown to dark brown in color, and lighter on their "blind side" (the side lacking an eye). Their overall body color is often broken by a series of spots and thin stripes, which can be lighter or darker than the main body color. The fins and tail have fringed edges which help to hide the fish from its prey. Adult hogchokers reach a maximum size of 6 inches (15cm), but their average size is 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm).
Hogchokers are born and live in marine water for the first part of their life, and then move into freshwater rivers. They are spotted as far as 150 miles (240 KM) up through river systems and springs! They are distributed along the coast and in freshwater systems from Maine as far as the Yucatan, including the Gulf of Mexico. When fully grown they migrate back to salt water or brackish estuaries where reproduction takes place.
Hogchokers feed mainly on small bottom dwelling aquatic insects and invertebrates. They can be often spotted on the bottom of the sandy substrate in the spring’s run, if you are careful you can scoop them up into your hand to get a closer view!
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/hogchokerginnieagnes.jpg
Hogchoker, Trinectes maculates, in basin of Ginnie's "Devil Eye"
Photo courtesy of Agnes Milowka (www.AgnesMilowka.com)
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/PeacockFlounder.jpg
Hogchoker in Peacock Spring Basin.
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/floundermadsion.jpg
Hogchoker camouflaged well in the sand of Madison Blue Spring run.
Article courtesy of Richard Vaughan III
Hogchokers are born and live in marine water for the first part of their life, and then move into freshwater rivers. They are spotted as far as 150 miles (240 KM) up through river systems and springs! They are distributed along the coast and in freshwater systems from Maine as far as the Yucatan, including the Gulf of Mexico. When fully grown they migrate back to salt water or brackish estuaries where reproduction takes place.
Hogchokers feed mainly on small bottom dwelling aquatic insects and invertebrates. They can be often spotted on the bottom of the sandy substrate in the spring’s run, if you are careful you can scoop them up into your hand to get a closer view!
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/hogchokerginnieagnes.jpg
Hogchoker, Trinectes maculates, in basin of Ginnie's "Devil Eye"
Photo courtesy of Agnes Milowka (www.AgnesMilowka.com)
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/PeacockFlounder.jpg
Hogchoker in Peacock Spring Basin.
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/floundermadsion.jpg
Hogchoker camouflaged well in the sand of Madison Blue Spring run.
Article courtesy of Richard Vaughan III