The baitfish primer

A guide to identifying and protecting Ontario's baitfishes

by Becky Cudmore and Nicolas E. Mandrak

Table of Contents

• Complete Text
• Introduction
• Acknowledgements
• Summary of legislation and regulations related to baitfishes
• Potential impacts of harvest and use of baitfishes
• Baitfish habitat
• Anatomical key
• Pictorial key of Ontario fish families
• Species accounts
  • Herrings
  • Carps and minnows
  • Suckers and redhorses
  • Mudminnows
  • Smelts
  • Salmon, trouts and whitefishes
  • New world silversides
  • Topminnows
  • Trout-perches
  • Sticklebacks
  • Sculpins
  • Perches and darters
  • Gobies
  • Crayfishes
• What you can do to minimize impacts to aquatic ecosystems
• Further reading
• Contacts

Acknowledgements

The help and direction provided by Harold Harvey (University of Toronto) was invaluable in the production of this Primer. The authors would also like to thank the following for their input and assistance: Karen Gray, Debbie Ming, Jason Barnucz, Andries Blouw, Andrew Drake, Theresa Nichols, Todd Morris, Shawn Staton, Heather Surette, Hilary Prince, and Timothy Gingera (Fisheries and Oceans Canada); E.J. Crossman and Erling Holm (Royal Ontario Museum); Debbie Bowen and Doug Jensen (Minnesota Sea Grant Program); Chris Brousseau, Alan Dextrase, Beth Brownson, Scott Gibson, Mark Robbins, Derrick Humber, David Copplestone, and Brenda Koenig (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry); Madolyn Mandrak (University of Guelph); and Dustin Boczek.

Illustration credits:

• University of Minnesota Sea Grant Program: Rusty Crayfish
• Bonna Rouse, Allset Inc.: Front cover and general non-species specific illustrations
• Joseph R. Tomelleri: Black Redhorse, Blackstripe Topminnow, Bluntnose Minnow, Eastern Sand Darter, Fantail Darter, Ghost Shiner, Gizzard Shad, Gravel Chub, Greenside Darter, Johnny Darter, Lake Chubsucker, Least Darter, Mottled Sculpin, Ninespine Stickleback, Pugnose Minnow, River Darter, River Redhorse, River Shiner, Round Goby, Ruffe, Silver Chub, Silver Shiner, and Spotted Sucker
• Carlyn Iverson, Absolute Science Studios: Black Carp, Tench, and Tubenose Goby
• Emily S. Damstra: Bighead Carp, Grass Carp, and Silver Carp
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Bureau of Fisheries, Albany, NY: All other fish illustrations found in The Baitfish Primer