Expert: Mystery Catch Was a Northern Kingfish

On Thursday just east of the harbor entrance when he pulled up a mysterious fish. He sent a photo of the sea creature to Patch to have readers help identify it.

"Kingfish," he said in the comments section. "Good eating."

Well, the second part of his comment is still up for debate but the first part was right.

According to Donna Edgar, who is a marine biologist, it was a Northern Kingfish.

"What you have there is a Northern Kingfish. Menticirrhus saxatilis," she said. "With the chin barbel and the long extension to the first dorsal fin. They are bottom feeders and grow usually to 10 to -12 inches in length."

Thanks to Johnson and Edgar for filling us in.

Have you ever caught a unique or odd fish in the Long Island Sound? Send us your pictures in an email to lon.cohen@patch.com.