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I go fishing a lot and I catch lots of fish. How to i know the type of fish i catch?

If you’re in the United States, you can consult your state’s fish and game proclamation. The proclamation is a collection of the rules, regulations, and other information for fishing in your state’s fisheries. The proclamation should have descriptions of all the fish you are likely to catch in your state. It will also discuss limits, sizes, and other stuff like which fish are native to your area and which are nonnative or pest species. It will include descriptions of fish that are endangered or threatened. A good proclamation will have color illustrations or photos of the fish, at least for species that are difficult to distinguish.

You may catch fish that you can’t identify, even with the help of a fishing proclamation — ask people who are local to your area, especially the old-timers. Or, take a picture and come back here to ask. There are people here who know fish from Florida to Alaska and everywhere between. A book with fish species in your area can help, too, but eventually you will just know what’s what.

You should probably know what’s what before you fish a lot — you wouldn’t want to get caught with the wrong kind of fish or the wrong number of certain fish. It can result in big fines.

1. Tom Says:
   February 7th, 2010 at 12:21 am

   use a book
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2. Carp Angler Says:
   February 7th, 2010 at 12:38 am

   You get to know all of the fish species through experience. I probably know all the species of fish in my lake by the look of them. This is just one of those things fisherman learn in their fishing career. It is pretty easy. I mean everybody knows the difference between a catfish and a bluegill, but maybe not everybody knows the difference between a blue catfish and channel catfish.
   References :

3. Chadd Says:
   February 7th, 2010 at 1:08 am

   If you’re in the United States, you can consult your state’s fish and game proclamation. The proclamation is a collection of the rules, regulations, and other information for fishing in your state’s fisheries. The proclamation should have descriptions of all the fish you are likely to catch in your state. It will also discuss limits, sizes, and other stuff like which fish are native to your area and which are nonnative or pest species. It will include descriptions of fish that are endangered or threatened. A good proclamation will have color illustrations or photos of the fish, at least for species that are difficult to distinguish.

   You may catch fish that you can’t identify, even with the help of a fishing proclamation — ask people who are local to your area, especially the old-timers. Or, take a picture and come back here to ask. There are people here who know fish from Florida to Alaska and everywhere between. A book with fish species in your area can help, too, but eventually you will just know what’s what.

   You should probably know what’s what before you fish a lot — you wouldn’t want to get caught with the wrong kind of fish or the wrong number of certain fish. It can result in big fines.
   References :

4. randyrhoads Says:
   February 7th, 2010 at 1:43 am

   start with a book or a key. the book does not have to be expansive or filled with all kinds of fish because u are not going to be catching rare exotic fish like a angler or the telescope fish so a cheep book will be fine. after a while u will memorize some and then eventually all.

   good luck!
   References :

5. mr.confused Says:
   February 7th, 2010 at 2:12 am

   ya i have a book of all the fish in my state you should look into it. Plus you will use it more than once because i went fishing in a near by lake and caught yellow bass which i had never seen and looked up in the book. good luck.
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6. James Says:
   February 7th, 2010 at 2:22 am

   well if u have a info center in town or a cabalas then u can go and ask them for a free fish identifacation guide that show all of the fish spices and TAKE it with u when u go fishing.
   References :