Anchovies and a rock

  

I was at the Spud Point Marina docks briefly this afternoon and noticed lots of schools of what look to be young Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax).  [Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong!]

Also came across a nice juvenile rockfish (Sebastes sp.).  It was only ~4 cm (1.5 inches) long:

 

 

Bat Ray for breakfast?

 

 

River Otter (Lontra canadensis) chewing on a Bat Ray (Myliobatis californica) in Bodega Harbor on 9 March 2026.

 

The wind hadn't picked up yet, so there were some nice views of the otter swimming in shallow water along the shoreline:

 

 

 

 

 

 

P.S.  The otter seemed to be having trouble eating the Bat Ray, perhaps due to its thick skin?  Eventually it left the ray behind and moved on.

 

Find the fish

  

Quick photo of a sculpin in the rocky intertidal zone after field work tonight (5 December 2025).  Amazing how much it looks like the surrounding rock, gravel, and shells.

Catch of the day

  

While out early working during the low tide this morning (27 May 2025),  we were in the middle of a survey when Eric heard a splash and turned to see a River Otter (Lontra canadensis) swimming not too far away from us.  (We were somewhat hidden by a rock.)  Eventually the otter caught a large fish and it climbed up onto a rock and starting eating.  

Although we only had a point-and-shoot camera, Eric was able to take a short video.  I think this is a Striped Surfperch (Embiotoca lateralis), but if you have a different opinion, please let me know!  [If you can't see the video player in the e-mail, click on the title of this post above to find the video on the NHBH web page.]

With gratitude for sharing coastal habitats with otter and fish!

A color here, a color there

  

Those sculpin eyes, they get me every time.  (And that green and white patterning is magical!)

Photographed in the rocky intertidal zone along the Sonoma Coast in early January 2025.

Inspiration, move me brightly

  

Eric noticed this amazing sculpin recently -- the colors behind the eyes are a perfect match for orange sponge and pink coralline algae found in low rocky intertidal zone areas.

This might be a Smoothhead Sculpin (Artedius lateralis), but we'd love input about the identification.

So green!

  

We've been doing intertidal surveys this week, but last night we had a few minutes to look around a bit more.  It was exciting to find a few beautiful green sculpins near some surfgrass.  I'm always grateful for these sightings.  Even when we're not out there, it's nice to imagine these amazing fish in the tidepools under the moonlight.

P.S.  Thanks for the great photo, Eric!

The same or different?

  

Eric photographed some nice sculpins a few days ago.  These two (above and below) were intriguing.  Although at first glance these fish appear to be different, a closer look reveals quite a few similarities, e.g., the shape of the head, the red striping in their eyes, the shapes and sizes of some of the pale blue markings.  So now I'm wondering if they're the same species?  What do you think?

 

 

P.S.  Thanks for the great photos, Eric!

 

Maroon cab

  

Juvenile Cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) from the intertidal zone along the Sonoma Coast on 30 November 2024.  This individual was pretty small, only ~3.5 inches (~9 cm) long.  I loved the deep red color of this one!

A fish sampler?

  

Got lucky and noticed this River Otter (Lontra canadensis) at the north end of Bodega Harbor on my way back from the post office today (14 October 2024).  The otter was having a lot of luck, too -- I saw it catch at least three fish in a very short time!  Above, with a flatfish...

Below, with some sort of gunnel?  (Let me know if you can tell what it is!)

 

 

 

The otter spent most of its time fishing and swimming or resting at the surface:

 

 

 

 

It also came close to shore a few times, shook, and had a look around:

 

 

 

I suppose their long whiskers are helpful for locating fish under water, but sometimes I'm still surprised at their skill and success.

 

Silver spears

  

I've been busy at work lately, but I wanted to share this photo of Pacific Saury (Cololabis saira) from 22 September 2024. 

Willy kindly wrote to let me know that Mike and Spinner caught these fish just off Point Reyes on 22 September 2024.  

I don't know a lot about Pacific Saury, but it sounds like they're more common 40-100 miles off the coast, so seeing them so close to shore is notable.  They're often associated with sea water temperatures ~60°F (57-63°F) — and can be hanging out in the same water as albacore.  [I noticed another Pacific Saury report from the Farallon Islands in late August.]

Note the small finlets at the tail end of the body (between the dorsal/anal fins and the caudal fin) — very mackerel like.  Sauries are in the Scomberesocidae family — "Scomber" refers to their similarities with mackerel.

Pacific Sauries are commonly 25-30 cm (10-12") long.  They have a broad distribution in the Pacific Ocean, but are known to migrate north to the Gulf of Alaska for the summer and then south to California in the fall.

P.S.  The species name "saira" refers to a Japanese word for spear, presumably after the long slender shape of the fish.  The genus Cololabis means "short lips" — interesting to me because the Atlantic Saury (Scomberesox saurus) has very long lips!  You can see a nice photo here.

P.P.S.  Many thanks to Willy, Mike, and Spinner for sharing this observation!