Just about every summer and early fall for the past several years I have been keeping a few killi pots or fish traps in the Navesink River and Sandy Hook Bay to find out what swims in local waters, in the downstream portion of New York Harbor. It's amazing what weird looking fish live in the bay.
During the weekend, with water temperatures around the bay on either side of 55 degrees, I decided it would be a good idea to pull out all the traps and pots for the season. Inshore water temperatures were starting to get mighty cold to support much fish activity. Another season has flown by and sadly come to an end.
As I was taking out the last trap in the Navesink River I spotted two wide round dark eyes and a row of sharp strong teeth staring back at me. What kind of fish are you?
It took me awhile to figure out if I should put my hand in the trap to pull out whatever was at the bottom. Every time I tried, the strange fish would make a harsh low sound. Brief grunts, croaks, or nippy coarse sounds. What on earth was this creature.
It turned out to be a five-inch Oyster Toadfish! Not the prettiest looking fish in the bay, but nothing to be scared of either. It has a certain charm, even though it's quite frightful when you see it for the first time.
This one was still a juvenile. Adult Oyster Toadfish may reach 17 inches, but lengths of 10 to 12 inches are more common.
As the name implies, a toadfish shares features of both a toad and a fish. Maybe the best of both worlds? It has a large, flat head with big, bulging eyes like a warty amphibian. The body is flattened and scaleless with rounded pectoral and caudal fins, similar to many fish. The overall coloration of the body is pale brown or tan with dark spots, blotches and streaks.
An Oyster Toadfish's most noticeable feature are its teeth. They have a broad mouth filled with strong, sharp teeth, which they use in the wild to crush shellfish. But watch out, if you attempt to touch or pick up one, toadfish will also bite people with their powerful snapping jaws to provide an unpleasant nip.
If that isn't enough to scare you a little, Toadfish are known to make weird sounds too. They will make a distinctive "boat-whistle" call or a “foghorn” call to attract a mate. When disturbed, they will make a coarse grunting or growling sounds. Imagine having a fish in your hand growl at you. The sounds are made by a rapid movement of the a muscle against the swim bladder.
While not the most handsome of fishes, Oyster Toadfishes do have a certain charm and allure. One great thing about being a nasty looking fish is that people don't want to eat you. It's scary appearance is probably what has made this fish one of the most common in New York Harbor and surrounding waters. People generally just leave Oyster Toadfish alone to live out its life in peace.
Also in its favor is that Oyster Toadfish are very hardy fish. They can tolerate low oxygen, polluted water and even periods of little food. A perfect aquatic creature to survive in the beautiful, but grimy and stressful waters of New York Harbor.
Oyster Toadfish are sluggish fish that spend most of their days living on the bottom in shallow parts of bays or rivers. They hide under oyster shells, clam shells, rocks, or even trash. Once a small fish, crab, or mollusk comes by, it will quickly lurch out of its shelter to catch a tasty meal with its sharp teeth. They can live to approximately 5 to 8 years.
For me, Oyster Toadfish are pretty cool looking sea creatures. Amazing, but ugly. I am always excited to find one. It's remarkable to think something so creepy can be found living near where I live. Here in the urban wilds of the Lower New York Bay estuary.
Happy Halloween!
For more information, pictures and year-round sightings of wildlife in or near Sandy Hook Bay and Lower New York Bay, please check out my blog entitled, Nature on the Edge of New York City at http://www.natureontheedgenyc.com
