Bowfin (Amia calva), also known as Dogfish or Mudfish are often confused with the predatory, invasive fish species, northern snakehead and are killed by uninformed anglers.
You can identify Bowfin by their long, continuous dorsal (top) fin with rounded caudal (tail fin). They are olive green/brown on their back, grading to a pale yellow/white on their belly. Adult male bowfin and juveniles have a characteristic black spot at the base of their tail.
Native to New York, bowfin are considered living fossils (dating back 65 million years) that still swim in our waters today. They’re mostly found in slow-moving rivers and lakes and have a unique ability to gulp air at the surface.
While fishing with cut bait for northern pike in Yanty Creek (Monroe County) with a buddy, Chase Soptelean, hooked into a large bowfin in 2021. After having it weighed on a certified scale, they had a feeling the 13 pound 8 ounce fish might be one for the record books, and they were right.
Chase’s bowfin edged out the 2006 record caught from Lake Champlain by 10 ounces.
Read more about New York fish.
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