Fish Id: A Guide To East Coast Fishes

Oyster Cracker/Toadfish  Opsanus tau

The Oyster Toadfish has a brown body with darker brown splotches. Pectoral fins rounded. Dorsal fin is spinny but narrow. Spotted/striped pattern on all fins. The head is large and flattish, eyes on top. Strong, wide mouth used to break open shellfish. They eat just about anything they come across on the bottom, so you will often catch them while after fluke, black sea bass and tautog. 
This specimen courtesy of Allison Winchester of Hermosa Beach, CA 

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