By Jacob Buhrle
Which fish is for which state? Oregon Chinook Salmon Florida Sailfish (saltwater) Largemouth Bass (freshwater)
Eat or be Eaten: Chinook Salmon They feed on terrestrial and aquatic insects, amphipods, and other crustaceans while young, and primarily on other fish when older Overexploitation - Over fishing Overexploitation - Diverting and over using water resources Dams - Altering the speed of water flows and blocking access to native streams Habitat Loss
What they look like: Chinook Salmon Chinook salmon are 3 feet long and approximately 30 pounds. But some Chinook salmon can grow to over 5 feet long and 110 pounds! Chinook salmon are blue-green on the head and back, and the sides are silver The tail, back, and upper fin have irregular, black spots. There are also black markings around the gums. During the mating season the salmon develop a reddish tint around the back fins and tail. It is possible to tell the difference between males and females. Male Chinook Salmon have a distinctive hooked nose at the top of the mouth. Less noticeable is the male's ridged back. Females do not have a ridge.
Where they live: Chinook Salmon Freshwater streams and estuaries provide important habitat for Chinook Salmon Estuaries and their associated wetlands provide vital nursery areas for the Chinook prior to its departure to the open ocean Eggs are laid in deeper water with larger gravel, and need cool water and good water flow (to supply oxygen) to survive
Eat or be Eaten: Sailfish Sailfish often eat fish such as mackerels, sardines, and anchovies, as well ascephalopods Sailfish that are hooked by long lines have been attacked by great white sharks and killer whales Adult free-swimming sailfish are rarely attacked
What do they look like: Sailfish Sailfish caught while trophy fishing have measured up to 11.2 feet, weighing as much as 200 pounds Their spindle-shaped body is long, flattened, and streamlined Sailfish have dark blue backs, with a mix of brown and light blue on their sides, and a silver-white color on their bellies This species can be told apart from other similar species by their stripes of light blue dots along their sides They have a long bill and file-like teeth Their huge first dorsal fin is sail-like, with 42 to 49 rays, and a much smaller second dorsal fin, with 6 to 7 rays
Where do they live: Sailfish Sailfish are found in temperate and tropical ocean waters These fish are often found near tropical areas, especially near the equatorial regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans They are found along Canada, the west coast of the United States, the western coast of South America, and some coastal areas of Africa This species is mostly found along coastal areas, but they can also be found in more central ocean areas
Eat or be Eaten: Largemouth Bass Immature Largemouth Bass feed on zooplankton and aquatic insects As they grow their diet shifts to crayfish and other fish species Sunfish are the food of choice for most adult largemouth bass Larval and juvenile Largemouth Bass are prey species of Yellow Perch, Walleye, Northern Pike, and Muskellunge As adults, Largemouth Bass can usually escape most predators The primary predators on adult Largemouth Bass are humans
What do they look like: Largemouth Bass They have a large mouth, a notch between the two dorsal fins, and a dark stripe along the side of the body This black band is seemingly made up of small oval shapes to a closer eye Coloration is variable, but is usually a darkish green on the back and sides, fading to an off-white on the belly The anterior dorsal fin has nine to eleven spines while the posterior dorsal fin has twelve to fourteen rays The average weight of Largemouth Bass is one kilogram; however, certain individuals have reached weights of over ten kilograms Males usually do not surpass 1.3 feet, while females can reach up to 1.8 feet in length.
Where do they live: Largemouth Bass Largemouth Bass prefer quiet, clear waters with abundant vegetation More specifically, they prefer shallow water that is usually no deeper than 7 feet, but they sometimes occupy deeper regions Abundant vegetation is important because it allows bass to hide from their prey and provides protection against predators Their environment is also made up of regions of clear waters where the bass' vision can be utilized to detect prey
Alevin Eggs life cycle of all 3 fish Fry Adult and smolt Parr
Similarities: Same lifecycle between all three Chinook Salmon can live in freshwater or saltwater The Chinook Salmon and Largemouth Bass eat the same thing
Differences: Sailfish can only live in saltwater Largemouth Bass can only live in fresh water They all have different predators They all look different
Works Cited Biokids. 19 November 2015 <http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/istiophorus_platypterus/>. HABITAT PROGRAM. 19 November 2015 <http://www.psmfc.org/habitat/edu_chinook_facts.html>. n. <https://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/amphibians-reptiles-and-fish/chinook-salmon.aspx>. National Wildlife Federation. 19 November 2015 <https://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/amphibians-reptiles-and- Fish/Chinook-Salmon.aspx>.