What kind of fish is at the beach?

[raidencmc]

I vacation frequently at a beach which is north of Rehobeth, DE. When I am out swimming I notice fish. This is bayside and the water tastes salty. We do boat in the area and have caught little sharks and flounder in the area. We fish close enough to the beach that we can see it and recognize people on shore to give you a distance gauge. I have always wanted to catch some fish at the beach and bring them home to my aqurium but not sure wether they are FW or SW. Today I went out to catch some thinking they were SW and caught a ghost shrimp. I decided it was best to reasearch a bit more before I brought some home. How do I figure out what type of fish they are and what type of tank I should put them in?

 

[alix2.0]

check the local laws, it may be illegal to take them. also, never put anything in your tank if you are not 100% what it is.

 

[travis99]

To be honest, if you have to ask that, you may want to start at the local fish store. It would probably be easier. There are many different kinds of fish out there and you would have to be pretty careful on which species you introduced into a home aquarium. Not only for the fish's sake but for your as well. You don't want to pick up anything that may harm your.
I don't think there is anything that excotic in the de bay. So I would avoid that and either get fish from here or your lfs.
Travis
edit: not to mention disease and things like that..

 

[alix2.0]

also if you add something to your tank without knowing what it is you run the risk of it growing up to be a 6 foot long monster.

 

[ophiura]

Please do not do this unless you are EXACTLY sure what it is (the question is WAY to open ended for ANYONE to answer it). Do not do it if you intend to keep anything other than local fish. Most of these fish will get large, and you are OBLIGATED to kill them if you keep them with anything that is not local.
I would very very very strongly discourage this.

 

[rara12]

Hi, i live in NJ and about a month ago i caught five pipe fish in the bay by sandy hook. Beautiful fish. One was red with yellow stripes, one all black, two grey beige ones that had awsome patterns, and a brown one with white stripes. All did great in my little nano and i would show you picks but i just took them to the LFS today. Taking down the reef tank. I think that some times you can get good things out of the ocean. I have also taken home a small fish that grew, ate everything and then died. So theres both sides of the spectrum.
P.S. there are some of the nice fish from like tropical florida that some times reach up here. I have personally caught butterfly fish, and even some ABT off the jersey shore while seining. But never release anything

 

[alix2.0]

Originally Posted by ophiura
I would very very very strongly discourage this.

FOSHO.

 

[king_nothing_]

yeah this is seriously one of the craziest thigns I've ever read. You are extremely mis (or UN) informed about fish in general. Please don't keep any. Period. If you don't know what you're catching, then theres no way you can take care of it's needs in captivity. It's just that simple. Now, like, a minnow or somethign isn't gonna grow to be 6 feet obviously, but I'm guessing if you want to keep it, it's not a standard "minnow" cause those are dull. Just don't keep anything, to be safe. Do some research online, look at pictures, and learn more, THEN try to set up an aquarium, THEN think about fish.

 

[ophiura]

Originally Posted by king_nothing_
yeah this is seriously one of the craziest thigns I've ever read. You are extremely mis (or UN) informed about fish in general. Please don't keep any. Period. If you don't know what you're catching, then theres no way you can take care of it's needs in captivity. It's just that simple. Now, like, a minnow or somethign isn't gonna grow to be 6 feet obviously, but I'm guessing if you want to keep it, it's not a standard "minnow" cause those are dull. Just don't keep anything, to be safe. Do some research online, look at pictures, and learn more, THEN try to set up an aquarium, THEN think about fish.
This is actually a fairly common occurrence, and I do give the poster credit for stopping and asking. It is fine to say "don't do it" but another to imply they are totally clueless and shouldn't keep anything.
So I think it is a great opportunity to ask the poster to research more suitable fish, and perhaps give us an idea of what they keep.
Being too harsh often has the opposite affect than what was intended. The person does it anyway, and never asks for help again. Definitely something we don't want

 

[grabbitt]

Originally Posted by rara12
Hi, i live in NJ and about a month ago i caught five pipe fish in the bay by sandy hook. Beautiful fish. One was red with yellow stripes, one all black, two grey beige ones that had awsome patterns, and a brown one with white stripes. All did great in my little nano and i would show you picks but i just took them to the LFS today.
Pipefish are difficult to keep to begin with, and when they are not bred in captivity, the difficulty expands tenfold. I hope they survive.

 

[farslayer]

Regarding local laws on this, you seriously need to check. My wife is a biologist (freshwater, not marine), and has a collection permit stating exactly what she can collect and for what purposes. In this state, if you collect a specimen without a permit, you can go to prison and/or pay a hefty fine. You can go to jail in WV for up to 30 days for just fishing without a license. She has reported several individuals to the DNR and has testified at hearings regarding illegal collection of specimens, so it is no laughing matter.
And has already been said, if you don't know what it is, don't try to keep it anyway. And kudos for asking first, most people don't do that.

 

[rara12]

Originally Posted by GRabbitt
Pipefish are difficult to keep to begin with, and when they are not bred in captivity, the difficulty expands tenfold. I hope they survive.

They did great for the month i had them. Ate frozen misis shrimp twice a day. Part of the reason i had to get rid of them. Had the tank to themselves, well with some corals. I do think that some of you are being too harsh.

 

[raidencmc]

Wow That was not exactly what I expected. I respect everyone's opinion and am glad that you all have had some input on the post. This is why I came here. I could not imagine there being any safety issues cause I swim with these fish quite often. They are the same fish that people catch as bait to fish with(I am not saying I agree but just makeing a point). I am sure that catching them is not a legal issue. I thought that fish grow to the size of their environment. So if you put a fish that could grow up to a foot in a smaller environment it would stay small. The fish is not exotic but something more like a baby striped bass or something like that. I am just trying to take a bit of the vacation home with me. I guess the one point I want to make is sometime before the hobby was as mainstream as it is now this is how people would get fish. I know this post is a bit scattered but I tried to cover everything that was said. Thanks for all your comments.

 

[farslayer]

Originally Posted by raidencmc
Wow That was not exactly what I expected. I respect everyone's opinion and am glad that you all have had some input on the post. This is why I came here. I could not imagine there being any safety issues cause I swim with these fish quite often. They are the same fish that people catch as bait to fish with(I am not saying I agree but just makeing a point). I am sure that catching them is not a legal issue. I thought that fish grow to the size of their environment. So if you put a fish that could grow up to a foot in a smaller environment it would stay small. The fish is not exotic but something more like a baby striped bass or something like that. I am just trying to take a bit of the vacation home with me. I guess the one point I want to make is sometime before the hobby was as mainstream as it is now this is how people would get fish. I know this post is a bit scattered but I tried to cover everything that was said. Thanks for all your comments.
Catching fish in the wild absolutely is a legal issue. There are many species which may be protected or are being monitored, thus if you mess with the population the biologists can't do their jobs. Seriously, you need to check with your local DNR, my wife does this for a living, she knows. Just a friendly "be careful" warning. There was another fellow on this site who had a permit to collect rock and a few other things for his coldwater tanks, so such permits exist.

 

[ophiura]

They will NOT grow to the size of the tank, believe me!!!! Definitely don't plan on this, as it won't happen It would be a nice thought, but it doesn't happen.

 

[bhfccsr198]

hey to reply to this topic hey raiencmsc i would not take them just do to delaware beaches are not the cleanest thing i have seen i live in delaware so i know plus 90% are just so bland i dont no nothing about permit or such but that just my two cents

 

[kanicky]

Originally Posted by raidencmc
Wow That was not exactly what I expected. I respect everyone's opinion and am glad that you all have had some input on the post.
This is why I came here.
And we're glad ya did!
Originally Posted by raidencmc
I could not imagine there being any safety issues cause I swim with these fish quite often.
I don't think anyone said it was a safety issue, but rather a legal issue..
Originally Posted by raidencmc
They are the same fish that people catch as bait to fish with(I am not saying I agree but just makeing a point).
That shouldn't be used as justification, though, especially if it is illegal in your area...
Originally Posted by raidencmc
I am sure that catching them is not a legal issue.
I agree with the others in that you must check with your local government, because all states/cities/counties have their own fish and wildlife laws that come with hefty fines and jail time if disregarded.
Originally Posted by raidencmc
I thought that fish grow to the size of their environment. So if you put a fish that could grow up to a foot in a smaller environment it would stay small.
A common misconception in the saltwater (and freshwater) hobby. I wrote a report on saltwater aquaria for a college class and did a lot of studying on this myth. My conclusion was that fish will grow to their normal size, regardless of what size tank they are in, or at least they will die trying. Small tanks restrict the normal development of muscles in a fish, which can lead to their death.
Originally Posted by raidencmc
The fish is not exotic but something more like a baby striped bass or something like that.
This doesn't matter. Even if something is not endangered or exotic, there are often laws that prohibit anyone taking anything without a permit or license.
Originally Posted by raidencmc
I am just trying to take a bit of the vacation home with me. I guess the one point I want to make is sometime before the hobby was as mainstream as it is now this is how people would get fish.
Point taken, but that's not the way things are done anymore, with changing laws and the such.
Originally Posted by raidencmc
I know this post is a bit scattered but I tried to cover everything that was said. Thanks for all your comments.
Hope we are able to help you in your venture!

 

[farslayer]

Wow, was surprised at seeing this thread was still active. Anyway, I thought I would go ahead and post the link to the West Virginia DNR's website for some info.
This is the set of fishing laws for WV, you'll see that collection of specimens is not allowed.
http://www.wvdnr.gov/fishing/documen...Hregs07Web.pdf
This is an online checklist to request a collection permit; you'll also see that a database of what you take is required, my wife usually maintains this on her laptop hence her fancy little backup system
http://www.wvdnr.gov/wildlife/scollectpermit.shtm
Anyway, just for those interested. I don't want to see anybody sitting in jail over a bass lol

 

[machota]

Here is delawares dnr fishing page.

 

[rudedog40]

I agree that before taking any wildlife out of ANY waters (fresh or salt) where you live or visit, you should check with the state laws. They do vary from state to state. In regards to Delaware, I poked around and could find nothing regarding the taking or capturing of tropical or ornamental fish. Until January 2008, you can even fish off the surf without a license. The fishing guide did list the variety of saltwater fish indiginous to the Delaware coast. The fish they listed were primarily large/sport fish like tuna, bass, sheepshead. etc. (definitely nothing you can put in a small tank). The only one I saw on the list I guess you could take was a trigger. I doubt that would be something you could catch off the shore. I think Delaware doesn't list this type of information simply because none of the fish we would put in our tanks live or thrive off the Delaware coast. For instance, if you look on Florida's DNR web site, they have a specific page about guidelines on what type of tropical fish (limit, size) you can take out of the Florida coastal waters. That's because they're readily available in Florida waters.
Does Delaware even have anything like coral reefs off their coast? If you're further than 3 miles off the Delaware coast, you are in federal waters, and have to abide by federal regualtions regarding what can be caught and kept.