Native Species Thread

[mitch25]

Hi all,

I wanted to start a thread about our awesome native species. I'm currently pretty limited on time but will happily post pictures and share my experiences with them in the wild and the few common species I keep at home. I should also mention I do this for work and have all the proper permits and experience to be doing this. If you want to get started with native species let me know and maybe I'll write a thread or give a presentation on how to do it legally and ethically. 

Here is a few from today out of the Speed River... Rock Bass, Greenside Darter, Creek Chub and River Chub.

Cheers!!
Mitch

Attachments:

[defiantk]

Great tnread idea, and thanks for the pictures! I really love the smaller native fishes of this area. Just wondering do you ever come across stickleback? One of favorites but havent seen one or a darter in Ontario since I was a little kid.

[Andre]

as i don't fish much it would be nice to see what our native species are..
great thread to start

[lesfromlakeshore]

Aug 30, 2017 12:10:16 GMT -5 Andre said:

as i don't fish much it would be nice to see what our native species are..
great thread to start

I'm with Andre on this . Great thread topic.

[mitch25]

Aug 30, 2017 11:40:35 GMT -5 defiantk said:

Great tnread idea, and thanks for the pictures! I really love the smaller native fishes of this area. Just wondering do you ever come across stickleback? One of favorites but havent seen one or a darter in Ontario since I was a little kid.

There is a few different species of sticklebacks in Ontario. I see Brook Sticklebacks everywhere and in huge numbers. They are very picky eaters to keep in aquariums basically only live foods with occasional blood worms. 

[mitch25]

Bluegill and Juvenile Northern Hogsucker. Bluegills will readily take any foods, not very aggressive super common and hardy, Northern Hogsucker, treat them like plecos, also very common.

[lesfromlakeshore]

Where do they come up with these names . " Northern Hogsucker " ? lol

[mitch25]

Haha good point

[mitch25]

I'd also like to point out that the are called "Bluegills" not "Bluegulls" as a I previously wrote... you can tell I'm rushing lol

[mitch25]

Some more eye candy..

[stevee]

That's a beautiful little brookie!

[mitch25]

Previ to Franks talk I wanted to share some of the legalities of keeping native species.


As per www.ontario.ca/page/fishing-live-bait.

Anglers with a valid fishing licence may capture their own bait for personal use as follows:

BAIT LIMIT NOTES
Baitfish 120
Includes those caught and or purchased. See list of permitted baitfish species.
Only resident anglers may capture baitfish, using the methods outlined below.

See www.ontario.ca/faq/what-kinds-baitfish-can-i-use-live-bait bait fish species list

One baitfish trap no more than 51 cm (20 in.) long and 31 cm (12.2 in.) wide can be used day or night. Bait-fish traps must be clearly marked with the name of the user.

One dip-net no more than 183 cm (6 ft.) on each side if square, or 183 cm (6 ft.) across if circular, during daylight hours only (after sunrise and before sunset).

Dip-nets and baitfish traps may not be used in Algonquin Park.

Authorities who regulate this are: 

Conservation Officers

Conservation Officers have powers of inspection, arrest, search and seizure under the various statutes they enforce, including the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and the Fisheries Act. When carrying out their duties Conservation Officers may do the following:

Stop and inspect a vehicle, boat or aircraft
Ask questions relevant to the inspection
Enter onto private property in the discharge of their duties
Inspect buildings or other places
Search with a warrant
Search without a warrant in circumstances requiring immediate action Require the assistance of persons to complete an inspection of coolers and containers
Seize items related to an offence
Arrest anyone the Conservation Officer believes has committed, is committing, or is about to commit an offence.

Police Officers appointed under the Police Services Act, RCMP Officers, National Wildlife Officers, National Park Wardens and Conservation Officers of all border states and provinces are designated Conservation Officers in Ontario.

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act is the main provincial law regulating fishing. Fishing licences are issued under this act.
The penalties for fisheries-related offences can be up to $1,000,000 or three years imprisonment, or both, depending on the Act and the severity of the offence.

[mitch25]

PLEASE BE RESPONSIBLE IF YOU ARE GOING TO CAPTURE NATIVE BAITFISH. This means educating yourselves on how to properly identify native species. I recommended the ROM Ontario Fish ID Book and their subsequent courses.

If at any point you don't know what the species is.. immediately return it to the watercourse. I'm happy to help identify any fish.

If any of you need help getting a scientific collection permit I can help you through the process. It usually takes a month for it to go through.

[lisachromis]

Also, if you do keep them, when you are done keeping them; you CANNOT return them to any wild water body. They must be humanely destroyed. Also, not every MNR officer decides if it's legal or not. You get varying opinions on whether or not you can keep them legally (I have asked many, many people at the MNR and have gotten many differing replies). Your best bet is probably the scientific collection permit as Mitch25 pointed out. There are many really cool species and it's really too bad we cannot keep them in our tanks without a big deal of hassle. I also believe that within the baitfish category there are species you are not allowed to keep at all due to them being highly endangered. I am sure Mitch25 will be able to confirm that.

[mitch25]

Nov 17, 2017 8:46:17 GMT -5 lisachromis said:

Also, if you do keep them, when you are done keeping them; you CANNOT return them to any wild water body. They must be humanely destroyed. Also, not every MNR officer decides if it's legal or not. You get varying opinions on whether or not you can keep them legally (I have asked many, many people at the MNR and have gotten many differing replies). Your best bet is probably the scientific collection permit as Mitch25 pointed out. There are many really cool species and it's really too bad we cannot keep them in our tanks without a big deal of hassle. I also believe that within the baitfish category there are species you are not allowed to keep at all due to them being highly endangered. I am sure Mitch25 will be able to confirm that.

Hey Lisa, 

Completely agree, fish removed from their native waters should not be returned to the wild.

Which fish listed within the baitfish list do you see as being highly endangered?