South River Fish ID

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Quiet Waters Park

Hi,
I was fishing at the Quiet Waters overlook in the South River on 9/10 and caught this fish at about 6pm. I caught and released many spot and perch in addition to this fish. It looks kind of like a Sheepshead. I did not think to check it's teeth. Any suggestions as to what it might be? I also caught what I think was a very small oyster fish. Can you confirm. Thanks for all you do!

DNR Response: Hello Carrie, the fish with the vertical stripes is a small black drum. The juvenile black drum tend to be in brackish water until they reach about 18" in length and then move into saltier areas of the bay and the bold stripes will begin to fade. The fish in the second picture is a northern puffer and is commonly called a blowfish. Northern puffers are summer visitors to the Chesapeake Bay and are good to eat and were once called "chicken of the sea" when they were abundant in the 1960's.