FISHING IN THE GULF OF MAINE THE TEN MOST COMMONLY CAUGHT FISH By CT Barnett and Jordan Peterson Kimball Union Academy

Are commonly known to attack humans The Black Dogfish Located in the pelagic zone and also in brackish water marine environment. Depth range 0-1280 m. Primarily a coastal and offshore inhabitant of continental and insular shelves It feeds on bony fishes, sharks, rays, seals, cetaceans, sea birds, carrion, squid, octopi Are commonly known to attack humans

The Atlantic Cod Located in the benthopelagic zone, brackish waters; depth range 1 - 600 m. Found over a wide range of habitats Form schools during the day They are omnivorous, and feed at dawn or dusk on invertebrates and fish

The Atlantic Herring Located in the pelagic zone; brackish water. Depth range: 0-200 m. Schooling in coastal waters, with complex feeding strategies Feeds on small planktonic copepods in the first year and thereafter mainly on copepods. A facultative zooplanktivorous filter-feeder it can switch to filter-feeding if the food density and particle size are appropriate

The Haddock Located in the demersal zone; marine depth range 10 - 450 m. Commonly at depths 80 - 200 m, over rocks, sand, gravel or shells, and at temperatures from 4° - 10°C. Eats small bottom-living organisms including crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, worms and fishes.

The Atlantic Shad Located in the pelagic zone; lives in freshwater; brackish; marine. Depth range: 0-250 m. Spend most of its life at sea, returning to freshwater streams to breed . Feeds on plankton, mainly copepods and mysids, and occasionally on small fishes. Feeding ceases during upstream spawning migration and resumes during the downstream post-spawning migration

The White Hake Located in the demersal zone; depth to 980 m. Soft mud bottoms of the continental shelf and upper slope. It feeds on small crustaceans, squids and small fish

The Atlantic Halibut Located in the demersal zone in a marine habitat, depth range 50 - 2000 m. Benthic zone, but occasionally pelagic zone, as well It feeds mainly on other fish (cod, haddock, sand-eels, herring, capelin), but also cephalopods, large crustaceans and other bottom invertebrates

The American Four-Spotted Flounder Located in the demersal zone in a marine habitat. Bays and sounds in northern part of range, progressing deeper to 275 m or more It feeds mainly on invertebrates, and other small fishes

The Black Sea Bass Located in the demersal zone; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range to 30 m. Commonly found in bays and coastal waters. May enter rivers to spawn in spring. Some populations are landlocked. Feeds on zooplankton, fishes and invertebrates, mainly crustaceans. Juveniles feed on small shrimps, other crustaceans, annelid worms as well as insects

The Atlantic Mackerel Located in the pelagic zone; brackish; marine waters; depth to 200 m. Cold and temperate shelf waters They school near the surface. Over winter in deep waters, move closer to shore when water temperatures warm to 11° to 14°C It feeds on zooplankton, and other small fishes.

STATISTICS Year Species Tons Pounds $$$$$ HADDOCK 1,269 2,798,936 3,354,538 2001 Flounder 1,180 2,603,173 2,962,820 2001 Shad 0.3 576 158 2001 Hake 1,915 4,222,538 2,219,772

STATISTICS Year Species Tons Pounds $$$$$ Herring 52,537 115,824,675 7,164,559 Cod 1,334 2,941,705 3,114,299 Mackerel 1.4 3,120 1,417 Sea Bass 0.2 465 728 2001 Halibut 5 10,985 38,491

Bibliography http://www.whoi.edu/marinecensus/doc/Reference/fishes_c09_38.htm Encarta computer dictionary http://www.whoi.edu/marinecensus/doc/Reference/fishes_common.htm http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st1/commercial/landings/annual_landings.html