In the United States, there are approximately 800 species of fish. Each is unique. They’re different in size, shape, length and weight, but they have common characteristics.
How fish breathe
Gills enable a fish to breathe by removing oxygen from the water. The gills are located on both sides of the fish. You should never put your hand inside the gills or the gill cover when you handle a fish. If a fish cannot breathe, it cannot survive.
How fish move
The fins and tail allow fish to move left, right, up, down and even backwards. Most fish swim less than two miles an hour, but they can reach speeds of 12 to 20 miles per hour in short bursts while still maintaining the ability to change direction quickly. Big fish generally swim faster than smaller fish.
How fish see
A fish’s ability to see underwater is one of its most important senses. They have a protective film over their eyes to help them see clearly. As light enters the fish’s eye, it’s converted into an electric impulse, which allows the optic nerve to relay the information to the brain to produce an image.
Most species of fish have eyes on the side of their head allowing them to see objects to the left and right of their snout. They also see objects well above their head and slightly below it. Since their eyes are on the side of their head, most fish have somewhat of a blind spot when they’re looking straight ahead.
Most fish also have sensors in their eyes that allow them to see color. In clear water, anglers often choose lures in colors that match the main food source present in the lake to attract fish. In stained, low-visibility waters, anglers opt for colors such as white, chartreuse, pink, black and dark blues that will contrast with cloudy water. Another great choice in these conditions is to use lures that create movement and noise.
In addition to detecting color, fish see light and dark shades of gray, and most species have some level of night vision.
Biologists tell us that fish have excellent close-up vision but rather poor distance vision. How far fish see also depends on the condition of the water that day. Murky water conditions and, generally, deeper water conditions reduce the distance a fish can see. Some fish are also sensitive to bright light and look for habitats that provide shade on a sunny day.
More about fish anatomy next time.
About Hooked
“Hooked” is a new comic strip based on characters taken from the book “Learn To Fish, A Step-By-Step Guide For Beginning Anglers.” It features a multicultural cast of teens who love to fish and decide to form a fishing club in Cleveland. See “Hooked” monthly right here on the Signal Cleveland website produced in partnership with Dennis James Knowles and Gail Ann Grizzell of Cleveland’s The Fishing Foundation.
Ohio does not require those under 16 to have a fishing license Read more on Ohio fishing laws here.
