Couple of unknowns.....

[Octoloco]

Is this a type of sculpin? Sure looks like a Caribbean Toadfish.

And is this a deformed White Lined Dirona? Or something else? Sorry for the poor photos, I was using the wide angle lens and couldn't get the big thing close to the nudi in the rocks.

[Dusty2]

Pretty sure your right on the white lined dirona. He is either pretty sick or had a bad encounter with a predator. they will drop there cerata if grabbed by a fish or sickened by a parasite.

That fish is really weird looking. Haven't got a clue.

[Tom Nic]

Do you have any other pics of the fish from different angles?

[Octoloco]

Rich - thanks for the clarification. See I know some critters.
Tom - I think I have more from a previous dive. I'll check when I get
Back to my computer.

[Greg Jensen]

My best guess from this view is a spinyhead sculpin, Dasycottus setiger. I've only heard of people seeing them at Mukilteo- where was this one?

[Octoloco]

We have seen this fish on two different dives at Redondo under the last boat going down the rope. Heres the only other picture I have of it.

[diverden]

Considering that the fish is mostly head, I'd have to go buffalo sculpin but I'm fairly idenificationally challenged.

[Tom Nic]

It's not a Buffalo.

[cardiver]

Definitely not.

[Dusty2]

Actually the profile looks like a very hairy great sculpin?? maybe this will help

[Tom Nic]

Actually the profile looks like a very hairy great sculpin??

If great sculpin had hair, that is!

[Dusty2]

I think they were diving at Hanford!

[Greg Jensen]

Yep, a spinyhead. Janna forwarded me some pics for i.d. a year ago or so, taken by dieseldude at the t-dock.

I remain jealous- I've only ever seen them in trawls.

[Dusty2]

The name certainly fits!

[Octoloco]

Thanks for the ID Greg -I was starting to think it was a illegal alien immigrant toad fish! We're going to the Soccoro islands soon and I thought I'd have to catch it and take it with me and what with the cost of extra luggage you probably saved me a fortune!