black fish with vertical yellow stripes

[spatman]

at les davis yesterday i saw a black fish that had three vertical yellow stripes. it was a bout 10" long, shaped like a young-ish rockfish, and was mostly black except for the stripes. the stripes started (i think) around the gills and went toward the tail. the thickest stripe at the head was about 3/4" and the thinnest of the three was about 1/2-1/3", with about 1/2" in between each. the stripe were a bright yellow, but slightly mottled in some spots.

any idea what this might be?

[Sounder]

That sounds like a Northern Tiger Pirana to me. I'd have to see a picture to be sure. ](*,) Was it "rounder" than a typical rockfish?

[spatman]

That sounds like a Northern Tiger Pirana to me. I'd have to see a picture to be sure. ](*,) Was it "rounder" than a typical rockfish?

yeah, and it had these big scary teeth! in fact, it lunged at me and i let go of my camera, which is why i don't have a pic of it!

[Sounder]

That sounds like a Northern Tiger Pirana to me. I'd have to see a picture to be sure. ](*,) Was it "rounder" than a typical rockfish?

yeah, and it had these big scary teeth! in fact, it lunged at me and i let go of my camera, which is why i don't have a pic of it!

Aaah... why didn't you tell us about this in your post about your camera?! Duh! - I'd have sacrificed my camera too if a Northern Tiger Pirana was approaching me. They have a particular taste for underwater housings... I know, it's weird.

[spatman]

Aaah... why didn't you tell us about this in your post about your camera?! Duh! - I'd have sacrificed my camera too if a Northern Tiger Pirana was approaching me. They have a particular taste for underwater housings... I know, it's weird.

maybe that's why i didn't find the camera when i surfaced to look for it... it got savagely attacked by a school of NTPs as it ascended...

[Sounder]

Aaah... why didn't you tell us about this in your post about your camera?! Duh! - I'd have sacrificed my camera too if a Northern Tiger Pirana was approaching me. They have a particular taste for underwater housings... I know, it's weird.

maybe that's why i didn't find the camera when i surfaced to look for it... it got savagely attacked by a school of NTPs as it ascended...

THERE WAS A SCHOOL OF THEM?!?! It's a wonder you're still alive.

[spatman]

THERE WAS A SCHOOL OF THEM?!?! It's a wonder you're still alive.

must have been.. the viz was bad and i couldn't see the school, but there were little bits of plastic drifting down on me shortly after that. looked like the handiwork of several NTPs...

[Tom Nic]

Only at NWDiveClub... I swear, the "creativity" and general manic weirdness in this place keeps me off the streets and scratching my head sometimes... Where's the pirate thread hi-jack icon?!?

[spatman]

Where's the pirate thread hi-jack icon?!?

[Sounder]

Notice yet that nobody has actually addressed your question??

[spatman]

Notice yet that nobody has actually addressed your question??

they're all hiding under their desks in fear of the NTPs...

[John Rawlings]

at les davis yesterday i saw a black fish that had three vertical yellow stripes. it was a bout 10" long, shaped like a young-ish rockfish, and was mostly black except for the stripes. the stripes started (i think) around the gills and went toward the tail. the thickest stripe at the head was about 3/4" and the thinnest of the three was about 1/2-1/3", with about 1/2" in between each. the stripe were a bright yellow, but slightly mottled in some spots.

any idea what this might be?

A BLACK Rockfish with BRIGHT YELLOW stripes?

I really, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY doubt it because you were at Les Davis, AND your description of the stripes isn't the same, but might this possibly be what you saw?

http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/projects/ms ... kfish.html

http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/groundfish/Roc ... ckfish.htm

It would be unbelieveably cool if China Rockfish showed up down here in the Sound.....maybe if we wish hard enough....

- John

PS - What the Hell is an "NTP"?

[Sounder]

It would be super cool, and weird, to see a China. John - do you think the 10" long could help rule it in/out?

NTP is for Northern Tiger Pirana (they're quite rare)... that was my guess as to what this mystery fish was.

[spatman]

?

A BLACK Rockfish with BRIGHT YELLOW stripes?

I really, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY doubt it because you were at Les Davis, AND your description of the stripes isn't the same, but might this possibly be what you saw?

http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/projects/ms ... kfish.html

http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/groundfish/Roc ... ckfish.htm

It would be unbelieveably cool if China Rockfish showed up down here in the Sound.....maybe if we wish hard enough....

- John

PS - What the Hell is an "NTP"?[/quote]

hi john

i'm pretty sure it wasn't a China Rockfish. it didn't have the horizontal strip down its side. i'm also not 100% sure it was a rockfish. it was kinda shaped liked one, though.

[CaptnJack]

Copper's often get fairly dark and will have 2 bright slashy yellowish stripes up by the gills. Imagine this one with a darker rear...
http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/projects/ms ... kfish.html

China Rockfish like surge. They have never been known to be in Puget Sound unfortunately, other than the freak specimen. Closest place I've seen one (just one) is the along San Juan Island in Haro Strait. Othewise they are mostly Salt Creek/Sekiu and west.

[spatman]

Copper's often get fairly dark and will have 2 bright slashy yellowish stripes up by the gills. Imagine this one with a darker rear...
http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/projects/ms ... kfish.html

it's possible it might have been a young copper. it was very dark all over except for the stripes, not just the rear.

[narcosis Junky]

Have a nother beer before you go down. :occasion5: It will help