Cunner in the North East River

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Central
Location: North East River

A lot of "oddball" stray marine fish are being caught in the bay now due to high water temperatures (in the low 80s) and moderate to high salinities. Joe Hash submitted a picture of a fish his friend caught and asked for identification from DNR. This cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus) was caught in the North East River. It is a marine bottom fish, often found around rocks, reefs, and mussel beds along with tautog. This fish likely traveled into the northern bay from the Delaware Bay, through the C & D canal.