The 'official'
common name for monkfish is American goosefish; however, the market
name is monkfish and this is widely used. Other common names are
allmouth, molligut and fishing frog. The scientific (Latin) name
for monkfish is Lophius americanus.
2.
How many species of monkfish occur in the North Atlantic?
In the western
North Atlantic there are three species of monkfish (goosefish):
American goosefish = Lophius americanus
reticulate goosefish = Lophius reticulatus
blackfin goosefish = Lophius gastrophysus
In the eastern North Atlantic, there are two
commercial monkfish species:
Lophius piscatoris Lophius budegassa
3.
What is the maximum size of monkfish?
Bigelow and
Schroeder (in Fishes
of the Gulf of Maine, published 1953) observed the maximum
size of monkfish (goosefish) to be four feet (122 cm). They
noted that the fish may reach six feet in length but there are
no documented measurements to verify this. The largest fish
taken in NMFS surveys was 138 cm (54 inches), taken in Cape Cod
Bay in the autumn of 1978. The second longest fish documented
from a survey was 135 cm (53 inches), caught in Massachusetts
Bay by State of Massachusetts inshore surveys in 1979. Nine
additional fish 121 cm or greater in length have been taken in
NMFS surveys. Most of these very large fish were taken in
the Gulf of Maine or Southern New England waters and all were
caught prior to 1987.
4.
What is the maximum age of monkfish?
The maximum
age of monkfish is not known at present. The largest monkfish
which have been aged by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center
were 98 cm (age 8), 95 cm (age 8) and 91 cm (age 9).
This suggests fish approaching 140 cm could be 13 or 14 years
old, or even older depending on how growth rates slow with age.
5.
How is the age of monkfish determined?
The age of
monkfish is determined by counting marks that can be seen on the
vertebrae, much like rings are counted on fish scales or on tree
stumps. Vertebra number 8 is dissected from the vertebral
column and baked in a slow oven for several hours. The baking
helps define the rings by darkening protein bands within the vertebra.
The annual marks can then be counted with the aid of a dissecting
microscope.
6.
How fast do monkfish grow?
Monkfish
grow about 10 cm per year, up to an age of around 90 cm.
Since we currently have ages for few fish larger than 90 cm, we
cannot say how rapidly they grow after age 8 or 9 years.
Most vertebrate species grow more slowly or cease to grow as they
reach maximum size or age. Present data do not show major
differences between growth rates of males and females, or between
goosefish from the southern and northern management regions.
7.
What do monkfish eat?
Monkfish
are opportunistic feeders, which means they eat pretty much anything
that comes their way, including soda cans and other trash. However,
goosefish larger than about 20 cm (8 inches) feed primarily on
fish, while smaller goosefish also rely on invertebrates such
as shrimp. The most important fish prey for small goosefish
is sand lance (sand eels). Monkfish have a reputation for
being cannibals; however, there are relatively few documented
cases of cannibalism. When it does occur, cannibalism tends
to be by larger fish (> 60 cm or 24 inches).
