Northern Puffer

Type: Tidal
Region: Eastern
Location: Berlin, MD

I caught this cute little fish in a crab net, off the fishing pier in Frontier Town in Berlin MD. August 14th, 2014. Not sure what it is. It was only a few inches long. Any ideas?

DNR Response: A Northern Puffer that is commonly called a blow fish by most fishermen. They can grow to be 12" or more and are good to eat. In the 1960's there were a great number of them on the east coast and were called "Sea Squab"; Chesapeake Watermen often give them the funny name of "Blow Toads" as compared to the common Toad Fish that they often encounter in their crab pots.