Giant Wrymouth (Cryptacanthodes giganteusin)

Observation: While walking Jakolof Creek to see how the salmon run was going I noticed something odd in a pool full of dead pinks. I pulled it out onto the dry creek bed and was surprised to see this large eel like fish. We thought wrymouth were deep water fish.

Auke Bay Lab Consult: Mandy Lindeberg writes:" Yes, this is a Giant Wrymouth. Very Cool. Mecklenburg, Fishes of Alaska, states the Giant Wrymouth (Cryptacanthodes giganteus, Kittlitz, 1858) ranges from Pribilofs, Unalaska east down to southern southeastern AK and to CA. It is doubtful they range west to Russia. Specimens have been recorded by NMFS in Kachemak Bay. Tail length is up to 123 cm. They are known to live around gently sloping soft bottoms, often buried, at depths of 6-128m, usually shallower than 20m. Wrymouths dig in soft silt, making a system of tunnels with numerous exits, and eat invertebrates, primarily crustaceans (thus their sharp teeth). I will note that anglers reported a couple years ago (during warm blob) catching quite a few of these while halibut fishing in southeast AK. These anglers have been fishing for decades in this area and never hooked them before."

LEO says: For more information on the Giant Wrymouth see (Cryptacanthodes giganteus). This observation has been shared with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Invasive Species Reporting and with the NOAA Kasitsna Bay Lab.

Resources:

Alaska Department of Fish & Game – Report an Invasive Species, If you are interested in reporting what you believe to be an invasive plant or animal check out the above link for detailed information on how to report your finding.