What the #$%& did we catch???

P

Prospective

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Some months ago I posted that I wanted to start fishing with my son. He's now nine is/was obsessed with the idea. Too bad for him I know nothing about fishing. So we're learning together. I took the suggestion that was offered here to find a local bait and tackle shop. Well, Lucky's in Warren, RI has been great. If you can ever visit, stop in.

So, we went fishing off the back of the boat last night for his B-day with two of his little friends. Were catching Scup as fast as I could bait the hooks. They had a blast and so did I.

My question is, aside from the Scup we caught, we also caught some other fish which I will do my best to describe:

Prehistoric looking dark brownish in color. Eyes on top of head with a body that looked a little like a blow fish... wide body narrowing tail when viewed from the top. Wide mouth with small serrated teeth. Caught with clam toung of bottom using a weighted hook. Caught two and each one was maybe 9-10 inches long.

Doesn't look like any of my standard fish pics. Still searching internet. Any ideas???
 
It sounds like what we call hackelheads aka oystertoad fish or oystercracker
 
Handsome Dude aint he?
I thought you had our Mayor for a minute there.
 
Those fish are mean little buggers. Watch your fingers around them. Nasty spines and teeth that don't stop snapping. 9-10" are adult size.
 
Oyster Fish. Yes, they can do serious damage to the unwary finger.

Bob
 
Thanks boys. I googled some oyster toad fish and yes it could be... Also wondering if it might have been small Monkfish which also looked similar to the pic's I've seen.
 
Okay, upon further reading looks like the Oyster Toadfish was it. Needed to use pliers to get the hook out of it's mouth and it snapped like crazy which sounds like the Oyster. Also, it likes muddy bottoms of rivers and tidal estuaries which is exactly where I was. Yuk.

Thanks for the help...
 
We get a lot of them in shrimp trawls, but not many on fish hooks.
THey's everywhere when you are dragging a net.
 
We also know them as "hackelheads." A nuisance fish with a nasty disposition.

Lady C
 
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