Fish of the Week!

Get to know the Grass Carp, a behemoth of a vegetarian with its very own "coming to America" story. Katrina and Guy delve into how it's situated on the fish family tree, compare and contrast it with other invasive carp and goldfish, and unveil the latest fan mail requests.

Meet the gem of the Georgia Piedmont, the Yellowfin Shiner! On this episode we learn all about the color-popping spawning habits of Yellowfins and other species in the Hydrophlox genus, their association with nest-building species like Bluehead Chubs and stonerollers, and where to spot them. You'll also get tips on successfully keeping native fish in aquaria and how to make friendships with other...

Meet the Kala, also known as the Bluespine Unicornfish! From the horn on its head to its blue spines and tail tassels, this leathery-skinned fish is a wonder to behold and a culturally-important species in Hawaii. You'll learn about the limu-eating habits of this fish and what is known about its age and growth, the practice of "pono" science, how management informed by lawai'a, how to be a good vi...

Get to know the Peppered Shiner: a beautiful little endemic fish that holds a special seat in the waters of Arkansas and Oklahoma, particularly in Arkansas' Saline River where it can still be reliably found. We discuss the habits and preferences of this fish, its place in shoaling communities and where it lives, and what people can do to help ensure it doesn't blink out. We also learn about the ch...

Get to know the humble and overlooked little Bay Anchovy: one of the most abundant and ecologically vital fish in most mid-Atlantic estuaries. This fish is on the menu for everyone from Striped Bass to Bluefish, sea birds to marine mammals. Is it also on pizza? You'll have to listen to find out. Our guest, Brian Boutin from our Chesapeake Marshlands National Wildlife Refuge Complex, discusses the...

Get to know the Golden Mahseer, a large freshwater fish native to fast-flowing rivers in the Himalayan region that feels the watershed-wide impacts of events like the recent catastrophic debris flow and flash flood in Nepal (this episode was recorded just prior to the catastrophic glacial collapse). We dive into the value of this fish and why it's important to think globally when it comes to learn...

Get to know the biggest member of the genus Moxostoma: the Greater Redhorse! This impressive native sucker species is accessible, fun to catch, and not intimidating to handle. We discuss how sight-fishing and focusing on the up-close details and beauty of fish can inspire art and offer an escape from the daily grind. Our guest Devon is an avid angler, fish artist, and Greater Redhorse fan. If you...

Get to know an extremely tough desert fish found only in one lake in southeastern Oregon. You'll learn about its amazing ability to withstand both hot temperatures and high levels of arsenic, the history of the lake and its conservation, and what questions are still left unanswered. Our guest is Fred Monzyk with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Native Fish Program.

Get to know the reef donkey! This big, powerful fish will "slap you around a bit and give you some fish rash." Katrina and Guy are joined by guests Mischa Schutz and Creed Branham, who share their knowledge about the ecology and movement patterns of this fish, fishing tips, unexpected culinary tricks, what it's like to go through the scientific peer review process as a graduate student, and more!...

Get to know the goatfishes and their special place in Hawaiian culture. From keiki fishing for ʻōama with cane poles to the deeper meaning behind the endemic kūmū, we explore the efforts across the Hawaiian Archipelago to connect with and conserve these wonderful fish. Our guest is Jake Reichard with Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources.

Meet one of the few fish that's managed to cross America's Continental Divide: the Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout! On this episode we explore the variation in ecology and morphology of this beautiful fish across its range, its history in Yellowstone National Park and efforts to move it by wagon and train, how its been impacted by nonnative trout species, where to catch it, and the value it holds with...

We want you to imagine a souped up tilapia the size of a tire, hanging by a buoy. Head to Mississippi to fall in love with the Atlantic Tripletail, a fish of many names ("sleepy fish" and "buoy fish") that can deliver a powerful kick on the end of your line. Katrina and Guy are joined by Trevor Moncrief and Eric Gigli with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. Topics include where to fin...

Meet Washington State's only freshwater endemic fish: the Olympic Mudminnow! Despite being found nowhere else in the world, many questions about this quintessential Washingtonian species remain unanswered! On this episode, you'll get to know the habits, preferences, and close relatives of this beautiful little ambush predator. Ecologist Lauren Kuehne is our guest.

How well do you REALLY know one of the most popular fish the USA? What's the science behind its neon blue stripe? Where does it come from? What conditions does it prefer? Katrina and Guy get curious about this freshwater aquarium fish that Americans love so much.

Meet the Butterfly Kingfish AKA Butterfly Mackerel: the hottest fish you've never heard of! This not-well-studied fish is the sole species in the monotypic genus Gasterochisma , and the oldest lineage of Scombridae (the mackerel, tuna, and bonito family). Katrina, Guy, and guest Fernando Melendez Vazquez from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City dig into the details about this l...

Get to know the Redbreast Sunfish and catch up on some fan mail, where Katrina and Guy read listener's fish requests and feedback! Learn how to tell this fish apart from other sunfish species, where to find Redbreasts, and gain some excellent fishing tips.

Get to know the minnow that "has the most normal looking head of any minnow" - the Weed Shiner! There's a lot of mystery surrounding this overlooked native fish, which, in addition to being a tasty treat for sportfish like Largemouth Bass and Bluegill, can tell us a lot about the success of habitat restoration efforts. Guest Ben Patschull from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) te...

Get to know the Gizzard Shad, a native fish that eats mud, feeds sportfish, and has something in common with birds! On this episode we delve into the ecology of this fish (including competition with invasive carp and positive interactions with native mussels), its nuanced role in nutrient cycling, and how the public perceives and interacts with Gizzard Shad. We've even got some math for folks who...

Get to know the only surviving member of genus Empetrichthys, the desert-dwelling Pahrump Poolfish! This Nevada native is not nearly as well-known as its neighbor, the Devils Hole Pupfish, but similarly is endangered and endemic to isolated, highly specific desert habitat. In six seasons of Fish of the Week, this is the FIRST species we've covered in the family Goodeidae! Our guests are fish biolo...

Get to know the habits of the Blacktip Shark and why they aggregate so close to shore. Just in time for summer, Katrina and Guy visit with shark expert Stephen Kajiura from Florida Atlantic University about shifting baselines and why these sharks are adjusting their migration farther north up the East Coast. We discuss how scientists study these sharks, what drives their migration, beachgoing safe...

The scene is set: two neighbors with very different ways of living. One is large, long-lived, free-to-roam, blimp-like. The other: small, shorter-lived, confined, butter-like. These are the people's fish, occupying international waters and places on earth that are quite impossible for us to truly experience from the perspectives of these amazingly adapted, beautiful fish. Get to know the "albatros...

Get to know the Gilt Darter complex! Katrina and Guy are joined by two guests from Yale University's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology: Tom Near and Julia Wood. They imagine sitting down with the five species (Gilt, Masquerade, Brassy, Western Gilt, and Russet Darters) over dinner to understand the identity of each fish and how they're doing, dig into what makes a species a species, t...

This week we're heading to New England to get to know its very large, blobby, thick-tailed electric ray that's super cool but not well-understood. In this episode, we get a peek into the torpedo ray's personality and deep dive into the how-tos and value of rescuing and necropsying stranded fish. Guy ponders if anyone has used uterine "milk" to make a cheese and Katrina wonders about historical acc...

Prized for their blue spot and legendary as bait for big snook and other sportfish, the frowny-faced Fat Sleeper is valued wherever it is: judging you from your aquarium, breathing air from the top of its head while trying to avoid becoming candy for herons, predicting storms, or unlocking nutrients from mangroves to benefit the entire food chain. You'll learn how this fish is the ultimate survivo...

In waters that are "just right" across America, you can find colorful, unfamiliar fish living on the edge. Embark on a weird treasure hunt with Katrina, Guy, and guest Matt Miller from The Nature Conservancy to learn about Central American Convict Cichlids in Idaho to feral fancy guppies in George Washington's Bathtub and Jack Dempsey Cichlids in South Dakota. We explore American's bizarre relatio...