Funny bycatch: gobies used to be common

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The goby is an amazing fish, so beloved by fishermen of the Azov and Black Seas. Indeed, this is a fairly inexpensive, tasty fish that every tourist appreciates. At the same time, few people know that there are many other different species that are no less popular and interesting for their characteristics.

Origin of the species and description

Photo: Goby

The goby is a ray-finned fish of the perch family. It was first encountered a very long time ago in the Sea of ​​Azov. It is believed that this is where the history of this species of marine life begins. Although exotic species do not arouse any interest among fishermen, the goby is still rather an object of fishing. After all, the Black Sea and Azov gobies are many times larger than the populations of other species. The species of gobies is mainly determined by their habitat and features of appearance.

Video: Goby

Today the following main types of gobies are known:

• sandpiper;
• loudmouth;
• tsutsyk;
• round timber

It is interesting that exotic species are usually not considered when analyzing this category of fish. But all of the above are found in the basin of the Black and Azov Seas. These are common subspecies of gobies, which are usually called ordinary. All of them are objects of fishing. These species have virtually no external differences. The main difference is the size and slight differences in shades.

Interesting fact: In the city of Berdyansk, near the port, there is a monument to the breadwinner bull. This is due to particularly active fishing in this area. Indeed, for many years, local residents mainly survived thanks to this fish.

Striped shrimp goby

These gobies are also called threadfin red-striped gobies. In nature, they live among the reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The body length of shrimp gobies does not exceed 4-5 centimeters. These fish live together with click shrimp. Shrimps provide fish with housing by digging a burrow; they get along well in the burrow. The shrimp benefits from such a neighborhood, since the fish thanks the hostess for her hospitality, warning her about the danger. If an enemy approaches, the goby pushes the shrimp, which has difficulty seeing, towards the hole with its tail.

In captivity, these gobies can live without shrimp. They get along well with other gobies, but the aquarium should not be cramped.

To catch gobies, they use the local method - under the boat, near the pier, etc., or they catch it “by stretch”.

Appearance and features

Photo: What a bull looks like

In terms of its external characteristics, the goby is in no way an attractive fish. But at the same time, it has several important distinctive features that help not to confuse it with any other fish:

• From below, the fins grow together in such a way that they form a sucker. With its help, the bull can easily be attached to stones and other surfaces;
• large mouth with large lips;
• the abundance of colors makes it sometimes difficult to recognize, but it is still possible to identify it using the previous parameters.

The goby itself is a little yellowish with dark spots. At the same time, there is now such an abundance of species that it is impossible to universally single out any one color. Depending on the type of fish in question, its parameters also differ. It can be from a few centimeters to half a meter in length. Weight also varies from 30 grams to 1.5 kg.

The Azov goby, familiar to most people, is not particularly large in size, and also has a grayish tint. But exotic species living in bright countries are distinguished by brighter colors. The shades of the fish's fins also differ. They are mostly transparent, but there are all kinds of tints, even reddish. The fins cannot be called too large. But the bull’s head is quite massive for such a body.

What is rotan: description and area

Thanks to active bites, good taste and moderate fat content, this type of predatory fish is a popular object of sport and recreational fishing. Resistance to sudden temperature changes, oxygen starvation, polluted and stagnant water has made the firebrand a frequent resident of many lakes, rivers, ponds and reservoirs in most regions of Russia. Rotan lives en masse in Lake Baikal, the basins of the Volga, Ural, Don, Irtysh, Kama, and reservoirs of the Moscow and Leningrad regions.

Now the domestic range of rotan, with some uninhabited areas, stretches from the Russian-Chinese border (Ussuri, Urgun, Amur) to the Kaliningrad region, Neman, Narva and Lake Peipsi.

The firebrand is quite easy to distinguish from other representatives of the ichthyofauna by its characteristic appearance:

• large head (1/3 body length);
• the second dorsal fin is larger than the first;
• rounded body with a thin caudal peduncle;
• medium-sized dense scales covered with mucus;
• a giant mouth with an elongated lower jaw and several rows of small sharp teeth that are periodically renewed;
• low position of the eyes;
• grayish belly;
• the main color is ash-green and brown-brown;
• lighter stripes and spots are randomly scattered on the sides.

Due to the similarity of the exterior, it is important to know the difference between rotan and bull. You need to pay attention to the pelvic fins - the firebrand has two of them, they are quite small and have a round shape. In representatives of gobies, this paired organ for swimming has fused and became like a large suction cup.

To learn more:

Description of the chub - a large fish of the carp family

Where does the goby live?

Photo: Goby fish

The goby lives in warm waters. In particularly cold climates, fish cannot survive. The Black and Azov Seas are the main habitats of the goby. The Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea are also his favorite places. The goby is found in smaller numbers in the Baltic. Also, fish can often be found in various estuaries.

In addition, some species of goby prefer fresh water bodies. We are talking about rivers, their tributaries, and lakes. Gobies are mainly found in the basins of the Dnieper, Dniester, Danube, and Volga. Gobies belong to the category of bottom fish. They lead a sedentary lifestyle and prefer to stay as close to the shore as possible at the bottom.

The bull is very leisurely. That is why it is not characterized by seasonal migrations, as well as active movements. Only on the eve of severe frosts does the fish move away from the shore and prefer to stay in the depths.

Gobies especially love to build burrows in the sand at the bottom. They can also wait between stones or in mud - these are their favorite places where they feel most comfortable. Typically, the goby prefers to build a hole that can accommodate 1-2 fish. But sometimes they can live in larger flocks. Depending on the type of goby, they can live in both fresh and sea water.

By the way, many people imagine the goby as a local fish. In fact, they live all over the world. It is difficult to find a place where gobies are not found at all. You can find a lot of exotic bulls. About a third of the representatives of this species live in corals.

Fishing for rotan

The herb prefers a shallow coastal zone with a maximum concentration of fry, small crustaceans, amphibians, and bottom larvae, which serve as its food base. In such a situation, catching fish with a classic long-range donka is impractical due to frequent difficult recasts. In open warm water, the best tackle for rotan will be a fly rod.

In spring, autumn and on cloudy summer days, light spinning rods, such as microjigs, prove effective. Also, for quiet and accurate catching of large rotan, a zherlitsa or a bottle donka are suitable. In winter, fish are caught from under the ice using a live bait bait or a nodding rod.

Bait selection

The voracity and omnivorous nature of the species determines a wide selection of baits of animal origin. The predatory rotan fish bites well on:

• crawling, earth and dung worms;
• bloodworms, maggots, caddis flies;
• meat of snails, mollusks, amphibians;
• small bait fish;
• artificial baits.

It is often practiced to catch rotan using chicken meat and skin, pieces of beef and lard, and strips of fresh fish. Such baits allow you to concentrate on catching predators and practically reduce to zero the likelihood of bites from carp species: crucian carp, roach, rudd, etc. In overpopulated reservoirs, rotan can consistently peck on some plant baits (peas, bread, corn, dough).

To learn more:

Ide: description of fish, habitat and lifestyle

Fishing with a float rod

Despite the light weight of the fish and moderate resistance when fishing, the tackle for rotan should not be too thin and withstand a tensile load of several kilograms. This is due to the peculiarity of the predator’s habitat, which is replete with aquatic vegetation and bottom debris.

The best option would be a green or brown monofilament line with a thickness of 0.1-0.15 mm. Installing a leash is not necessary, but in order not to tear off the entire equipment when hooked, it is better to arrange a separate installation of the hook using 20-30 cm of thinner fishing line 0.08-0.12 mm.

Particular attention should be paid to the choice of hook for rotan, which should be large in size and with a long shank (No. 4-8 according to the international classification). Otherwise, the angler will constantly be faced with the problem of pulling out a deeply swallowed bait. For the same reason, you should always have a long extractor with you.

The rotan bite is quite specific. He often gently takes the bait with his lips and slowly chews it. At the same time, the swimming trunk trembles slightly, but remains in place. If you don't make a short and sharp hook within 1-2 seconds, the hook will end up deep in the predator's throat and it will be difficult to get it back.

Despite the fact that rotan is a bottom-dwelling fish, it carefully monitors the space above its head and immediately attacks prey swimming nearby. That is why it is advisable to adjust the tackle so that the nozzle is 5-10 cm above the bottom level.

Catching rotan with silicone baits

When using artificial baits (maggots, bloodworms, worms, crustaceans), it is advisable to treat them with an attractant based on animal blood. If this is not possible, just wipe the nozzle with lard (lard) or roll it in a crushed piece of chicken, beef or pork.

Fishing for rotan with a spinning rod requires the use of ultralight rods with minimal testing. In addition to silicone baits and jig heads, you can use micro-spinners and small wobblers, for example Yo-Zuri Snap Beans, Pontoon 21 Cheerful 34 MR. The most catchy for rotan is twitching wiring with short and frequent jerks.

To learn more:

Are rotans edible? - delicious recipes

Fishing with a bottle

In modern fishing for predatory fish, the classic “circle” tackle has been successfully replaced by a more accessible and cheaper device made from sealed plastic containers with a volume of 0.5-1.0 liters. At the same time, the operating principle and installation diagram of a bottle donk are not much different from the original. The modernized tackle also has a reeled supply of fishing line, a sinker (sliding or blind), a leash with a hook on which live bait is located.

In the loaded position, the plastic bottle floats vertically and is 2/3 hidden under water due to the tension of the sinker. At the moment of a bite, the rotan pulls the fishing line and pulls it out from under the rubber band, which serves as a stop-limiter. This leads to a weakening of the tension and the bottle floating up in a horizontal position, which is a signal for the fish to bite.

The reverse scheme can also be used, when the bottle from a horizontal one takes a vertical position at the moment the rotan winds the entire supply of fishing line.

What does the bull eat?

Photo: River goby

The bull is extremely leisurely. This is why he is not very comfortable spending a lot of time hunting for other marine life. At the same time, he also does not strive to collect plant food. The solution for it is bottom dwellers. Among them, he selects those who make a minimum of movements and do not move at high speed.

That is why the basis of the goby’s diet consists of: small larvae, crustaceans, shrimp, worms, mollusks, and some types of fry. The goby tries to find those types of fry that, like himself, do not lead an overly active lifestyle.

The goby is quite voracious and therefore spends quite a lot of time searching for food. He often tries to hide in thickets or behind rocks and then suddenly attack a passing shrimp or any other sea inhabitant. The fish's large mouth allows it to swallow prey completely.

Some people mistakenly believe that the bull is completely unpretentious in food. Indeed, he is not too picky, but at the same time he will not pick up garbage from the bottom. It is much easier for him to completely limit his diet than to actively hunt or eat anything.

Interesting fact: If bad weather is raging, the goby does not go hunting and tries to minimize its food. Instead, he waits out the bad weather in peace and only then returns to his usual way of life.

Features of character and lifestyle

Photo: Sea goby

The goby is not a particularly active fish. He prefers to lead a sedentary, sedentary lifestyle. Active migrations are not for him. Also, the goby cannot be called a schooling fish. He prefers to live in small families. At the same time, even for spawning, the goby prefers not to go far, but to stick to its usual habitat, simply preparing the necessary place for this in advance, equipping a kind of house for spawning.

But there are still certain exceptions to the rules. Depending on the species, the goby may not approach the shores at all and even spawn in deep water. But other species that live in waters that are too fresh or salty may come to the shore to spawn or even enter river mouths.

In any case, it’s not often when the bull is ready to move. He prefers not to move long distances, much less often. He also does not go hunting too actively, preferring to wait for prey in ambush rather than pursue it. This is why bulls often have certain difficulties in this matter.

Also, the goby is not particularly friendly towards other fish, preferring to lead a solitary lifestyle. The maximum he is ready for is to live together with representatives of his own species, and then in small quantities, not all the time.

Interesting fact: Goby hates temperature changes. In this case, he can easily fall into torpor, stop not only hunting and eating, but even moving altogether.

How to cook better

Gobies can be processed in almost any way. Healthy fish is boiled and baked, stewed and fried in a frying pan. Several recipes for cooking bulls are the most popular.

In the oven

When baked in the oven, the bulls retain maximum beneficial properties and acquire a rich and pleasant taste. The recipe requires:

• bulls - 2 pcs.;
• lemon juice - 2 tbsp. l.;
• onions - 2 pcs.;
• black pepper - to taste;
• salt - to taste;
• vegetable oil - 2 tbsp. l.;
• aromatic herbs - to taste.

The preparation scheme is as follows:

1. The bulls are cleaned of scales, the heads are removed, the fish is gutted and washed in cold water.
2. Make a marinade from vegetable oil, lemon juice and spices.
3. Cut the fish fillets into pieces and generously coat each of them with the prepared mixture.
4. Treat the baking sheet with vegetable oil and lay out the onion cut into rings in a thick layer.
5. Place the fish fillet on top and put it in the oven at 200 °C.

The bulls must be baked for 30-40 minutes until done.

Baked bulls can be seasoned with lemon juice before eating.

Goby cutlets

Dietary fillet of bulls can be used to prepare delicious low-calorie cutlets. Ingredients needed:

• steers - 1 kg;
• onions - 1 pc.;
• semolina - 2 tbsp. l.;
• egg - 1 pc.;
• garlic - 2 cloves;
• salt - to taste;
• pepper - to taste;
• breadcrumbs - 100 g.

The step-by-step cooking algorithm looks like this:

1. Frozen bulls are thawed, fresh fish are cleaned of scales and entrails, the heads are removed and the fillets are washed.
2. The meat is rolled three times in a meat grinder through a fine wire rack to completely grind even the smallest bones.
3. The remaining ingredients are added to the resulting minced meat and kneaded by hand until smooth.
4. Place the workpiece in the freezer for 20 minutes.
5. After the time has passed, the minced meat is removed and small cutlets are made from it.
6. Roll the workpieces in breadcrumbs.
7. Fry in a frying pan on both sides for an average of ten minutes.

Recommended reading: Benefits of beaver meat

If desired, during the cooking process it is allowed to use not semolina, but flour or bread crumb. You can eat cutlets with cereals, potatoes and pasta, vegetables and fresh herbs.

Advice! The bull cutlets should not be made too thick, otherwise they will not be cooked well from the inside.

The less oil is used during cooking, the more tender and lighter the bull cutlets will be.

Social structure and reproduction

Photo: Blue bull

The goby begins to spawn in the spring. In March, a long period of spawning begins. It is enough for the temperature to rise to 10 degrees. After that, spawning will last until the very end of summer. Males are considered sexually mature in the second year of life. During spawning, they immediately change their color to a much darker one. After this, the male hides among the stones and begins to wait for the female, who will go to spawn.

If several bulls claim this place at once, then they may well start real fights for territory. The winner remains to equip a kind of nest, where the females are then lured. One male can attract several females at once. Depending on the type in question, the female can lay up to 7,000 eggs at a time.

The caviar has a slightly sticky shell, with which it is securely attached to the stones. It is interesting that immediately after spawning the female can go about her business, while the male will guard his offspring for another month. Otherwise, there is a high risk of eggs being consumed by bottom invertebrates. Males have a hard time protecting their eggs from being eaten, but they also take care of comfortable conditions for their offspring. To provide the oxygen necessary for the eggs, they create intense flows of water with their fins, which brings oxygen.

A month later, fry immediately appear from the larvae that emerge from the eggs. Bottom crustaceans are the main diet of babies during this period of time. But not for long at all. By the end of summer, gobies will be able to eat like any other adult fish. By the way, at this time the bulls are considered very noisy. To attract a female to his burrow, the male makes sounds similar to growling or slurping.

Goby breeding

In April, gobies living in the temperate zone begin spawning, at which time the water temperature is about 15 degrees. The male sets up a shelter for the offspring. Attracting a female, he finds a stone, removes debris, making a burrow under the stone. Having made the nest, the male begins to “sing”.

Gobies are generally the most “talkative” fish on Earth; they make various sounds by vibrating their heads and gill covers. For example, black-mouthed gobies croak, Azov gobies growl, and the bull goby makes something like a drum roll. Females recognize the sounds of mating songs even outside the breeding season.

Over the course of 12-24 hours, the chosen one masters the home, periodically swimming out of it and swimming in.

Most often, bulls lead a sedentary lifestyle and do not migrate anywhere.

After this, the female attaches eggs to the walls of the hole in even rows. The clutch of different types of gobies can include 200-3900 eggs. Gobies have unusual caviar; it is not round, like other fish, but has an oval shape. At one end there is a bundle of sticky threads, with the help of which the egg is attached to the walls of the hole. Having laid eggs, the female leaves the hole, and the offspring are left in the care of the father. It guards the home for about a week while the eggs develop, constantly ventilating the hole.

Sexual maturity in males occurs at 1-3 years, and in females, as a rule, at 3 years. Most of the gobies die after the first spawning, most often this happens in August. Surviving individuals overwinter and re-spawn. Bulls live a maximum of 5-7 years.

Natural enemies of gobies are predatory fish, terns, gulls and water snakes.

Gobies like to hide under stones, in thickets of grass, or bury themselves in the sand.

Natural enemies of the goby

Photo: Goby fish

The goby is very vulnerable to predatory fish. The main reason is that the fish is very slow and clumsy. If other species, having no protection from the enemy, have every chance of fleeing, then such an option is excluded here. The goby swims extremely slowly, so it will not be able to escape.

Its only advantage is its color. The goby is very unremarkable in appearance (the majority of species) and has no difficulty in merging with the ground or stone. Pike perch, stellate sturgeon, sturgeon - this is a far from complete list of those predators that love to feast on bulls. Also, the Azov dolphin does not refuse to eat gobies.

But the most interesting thing is that some species make a living by eating the fry of other gobies. But it’s not only in the reservoir itself that danger lurks for the goby. Like many other fish, the goby often suffers from attacks by birds. Herons actively hunt various types of gobies. Even snakes are ready to compete with herons.

At the same time, many still agree that people remain the most dangerous for bulls. They are the ones who contribute to a greater extent to the reduction of goby populations. They catch gobies in every possible way imaginable. Weather conditions can also become dangerous for the goby, since these fish are very sensitive to them.

Green-striped goby

In their natural environment, these gobies live in Puerto Rico. Green-striped gobies have a dark green color, and white transverse lines run along the body. There is a wide black stripe across the eyes.

These bulls are unpretentious in keeping, they have a peaceful character. They reproduce easily in an aquarium and lay their eggs between stones.

There are freshwater species of gobies that can be kept in an aquarium.

Population and species status

Photo: What a bull looks like

Objectively assessing the goby population can be quite challenging. The main reason is that today too many species of this fish are known. That is why it is quite difficult to say in general how the population is assessed. In addition, gobies are distributed throughout the world, so it is impossible to estimate their number even approximately.

Tracking the goby population is quite a serious and important task. The reason is the increased industrial importance of this category of fish. This is why it is so important to monitor how much the population is declining. It is not possible to assess the entire population. The goby has a rather short life cycle. Against this background, the number of gobies can be called approximately wavy. Sometimes the change in quantity can reach hundreds of times.

Although today there are quite a lot of gobies in Azov, their catch is strictly controlled at the state level. For example, every year when fish go to spawn, it is prohibited to catch it. Also at this time it is prohibited to drill the bottom or carry out any work dangerous to fish. Although the Azov and Black Sea gobies officially belong to the category of fish that do not need protection. But some species of exotic fish are so rare that special government programs are being developed to protect them.