Fishing for Answers

   Several years ago, I caught a small fish while fishing from the pier.  It was far too small to use as a meal but far too interesting to just toss back over without a few photos.  I took my pictures, released the fishy and then turned to one of my "fish experts" to find an identity.  The young man told me about a dozen names for the fish.  It seems the list of names was far longer than the fish itself.  "Redear, Redear Sunfish, Freshwater Bream, Shellcracker, Chinquapin, Rouge Ear Bream, Sun Perch or Cherry Gill...people call them by a whole bunch of different names."  If I ever need to know common names for fish, I turn to Jason!  Well, I had not thought of that fish for years and, then, I caught another.  My brain is getting old and, for the life of me, I could not recall a single name on that list!  In my defense, maybe the list was just too long!  There were too many names to remember!  So, I asked again and Jason was kind enough to spiel the list again.  

  While talking with him, I remembered that I had another unidentified fishy so I asked my expert about that one!  "Well, that one should not be around your pier either but at least it is a saltwater fish unlike the other.  But, in all fairness, the shellcracker can do well in brackish water.  This one looks like it is a Bluntnose Jack.  I've heard them called a few other things but those are not names that I would repeat to you."  (Jason is a good young man! He is respectful to old ladies!)  

  So, now I have names for two fish that came to visit.  One that has a bunch of names and one that has a bunch of names that are obviously a bit more colorful than I need to know.  My point is...if you don't know something...ask!  Someone...somewhere...knows!  Just keep learning.