Walleye surfperch
📖 Overview
Live in surf on sand beaches and over sand near rocks, often around piers. Often occur in dense schools. Feed on small crustaceans. Viviparous, female carries the developing young . Usually bear 5-12 young. An important game species.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 8 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25 - 28; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 30 - 35; Vertebrae: 33 - 37. Dark blue dorsally, sides and belly silvery with young having narrow golden vertical bars; tips of pelvic fins black; dusky on edge of caudal fin .: short and / or deep.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Walleye surfperch is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Viviparous, female carries the developing young .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 18 m . Subtropical; 52°N - 26°N, 130°W - 113°W central Baja California in Mexico, including Guadalupe Island (off northern central Baja California).
🌿 Ecology
small crustaceans
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Walleye surfperch is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Detailed nutritional data for Walleye surfperch is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Walleye surfperch has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 18 records indexed .
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