| Giant Kelpfish | |
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Family: |
Clinidae (Clinids) |
Genus and Species: |
Heterostichus rostratus |
Description: |
The body of the giant kelpfish is very elongate and compressed. The head is slender, compressed and pointed. The color may vary from light brown to green and purple with lighter areas of mottling. Giant kelpfish are easily separated from other family members because they are the only ones with forked tails; other members have rounded tails. |
Range: |
Giant kelpfish range from Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, to British Columbia, and from surface waters down to 130 feet. Rocks covered with seaweed and kelp beds surrounding them provide the forage and habitat giant kelpfish desire. |
Natural History: |
The diet of the giant kelpfish is predominantly small crustaceans, mollusks, and small fishes. Spawning occurs during March through July. During spawning, which occurs in a territory established by the male, the female releases her eggs on seaweed while she quivers with the male next to her, sometimes head to tail. Pink to greenish eggs are attached to the seaweed by entangling threads that extend from egg coverings. The male remains to guard the eggs. Transparent post larvae appear from April through August, usually in shallow water from 5 to 30 feet. Giant kelpfish school until approximately 2.5 inches long when they begin to assume adult colors and become solitary, living close among seaweeds. |
Fishing Information: |
Anglers pursuing giant kelpfish should drift through giant kelp beds since the fish are closely associated with the plants. When fishing for this species, small hooks are recommended since the fish have small mouths. Small shrimp, juvenile clams and other small invertebrates are used as bait. Squid can also be used if cut into small pieces. |
Other Common Names: |
kelpfish, eel, iodine fish, butterfish, kelp blenny. |
Largest Recorded: |
24 inches; no weight recorded; however, a 16.2 inch giant kelpfish weighed 1.2 pounds. |
Habitat: |
Shallow Rocky Environment |
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