This would be a spot tail shiner!

Yes! Looks like a mid-Atlantic slope spottail shiner. Notropis hudsonius is a fish that desperately needs some taxonomic splitting, the vary so much throughout their range.

> *Notropis hudsonius* cf. *exeterensis*. FTFY

Cool! Wasn’t sure if anyone is working on that or not.

I don’t know the way you answered this question I would guess it’s a fishtoomuch dontgetlaidthatmuches but thats just me

I’m an aquatic biologist with non-game fish background. I’m sorry if my detailed response upset you. Hopefully it was helpful for other folks.

I greatly appreciated the detailed response personally. I have a background in botany and am fascinated by taxonomy and regional variance within species. Fish are especially interesting due to the nature of independent systems of water. Been researching this sort of thing in regards to kokanee salmon. Fascinating how behaviors and even certain physical traits can vary so dramatically between different populations of the same (for now) species

Jesus it was just a joke

The real one 🙌

That fish would make good catfish bait.

I cut it up and used it but had to go to work donated it to the other anglers there!

Working the Karma angle, I see. Welcome to the sport, you are now hopelessly addicted, congratulations! 🎉🥳

If there’s a word worse than addiction I think that would be more fitting lol

Welcome to your new uncontrollable compulsion

There are worse addictions. That’s about as close as I can come up with.

Welcome to the game of fishing. But if you posted 9hrs ago asking for ID, why would you post at the same time saying you cut it up and gave it to other anglers for bait? Glad it just a shiner but what if you caught something out of season and cut it up? No bueno.

You son of a ... take my damn up vote. Absolutely what i was going to comment. And i thought it was clever.

Scissors. Wouldn’t expect to catch them on a baitfish that big

Best looking pair I’ve seen in a while. I’ve been trying to hit them on spoons recently but they definitely seem to prefer the live baitfish

Try a live spoon next time.

Take the upvote and see yourself out kind sir!

Throw a big dirty circle hook in that guy and toss him out. Cats will be all over that

Shiner. Aka bait

That's bait. Take it off the hook, put it back on the hook, cast it back out.

One word of advice. Please be sure you know what it is you're catching before keeping it. If you're ever unsure, it's often the safer bet to just release it. If you happen to keep a fish that's either protected or out of season, it can come along with some hefty fines if you get caught.

Gotcha

Download the app fish rules and turn on location it shows all available fish in your area and regulations

I'll chime in too since you said you're new to fishing. In addition to hefty fines, you can also lose assets like your vehicle and any gear you used while fishing etc. More than a few US states are like this, so when in doubt better safe than sorry. Here's hoping you lots of success and enjoyment in your fishing career! Cheers!

Don't forget local laws on using baitfish as bait. I've yet to see a state regulation pamphlet they hand out with the license list every single one of the dozens of minnows found in waters. They often times don't even include endangered or special concern minnows. While it is good advice for fishing in general. It's unrealistic to expect anyone short of a local marine biologist to know and be able identify every single species of fish down there that isn't intentionally fished for. Minnows and shiners are often caught on worms and many have different morphs that look very similar to one another. Most of us can probably identify a golden shiner. But I highly doubt many on this reddit can tell the difference between a brindle shiner and a pugnose shiner. Heck most probably haven't even heard of either til just now. Better advice is just to know if a fish can be bait before it's thrown onto a hook. If the answer is yes. Throwing that lil guy back with a hook through the dorsal on a float would probably catch him a decent sized cat. Match the hatch. If there's enough shiners down there that one ate a worm. There's probably a flathead not too far away more than willing to vacuum them in.

This 👍

Spotfin shiner

r/microfishing

Rapala Jerk Bait

Thats like a 10 pounder!

Idk bro looks close enough you should pack it up and call it a day

Leave him on the hook and toss it back lol..see what hitch hiker you pick up

Shiner

It is also good to mention region next time when asking ID ;)

Okay thanks will do (Potomac River Maryland

100% Cast it back out.

Yo dawg, imma put bait on yo bait so you can bait while you bait.

Sounds like a master baiter

looks like a smelt

I think a Pomeranian

No way water too deep for a dog that small!

I have those scissors

Give it to the cat. Then you can honestly say you caught the cat fish....

Well! You caught catfish bait anyways., 🤷‍♂️ But hey! It beats a skunk for the day

My thinking exactly!

Well, looks like you caught some bait..

Throw that out there and you’ll have an even better chance at a catfish

Can confirm this is not a catfish.

Bait

It’s called getting a chub.

Skipjack, shad

Big ass tarpon

Well done mate bagged urself a catfish already

Bait?

Idk but it should be great bait

Bait

Bait.

Cut that fish in half. Put it on the hook. Cast again.

It’s actually catfish bait! Hook it through an eye and let it fly! Or through his upper and lower lips. Send it and pray!

Looks like a scad 🎣

that is a green sunfish! it’s pretty hard to come by but you got lucky! sick catch

Does that look like a mini bass to you? Really?

Looks like a goldeneye but couldn’t be sure because no region given. Looking further I in fact believe it’s what I said earlier do to the spots on the side

Potomac River Accokeek Maryland

Catfish bait

Send that right back out there and catch a real fish! Use a marshmallow (or something) to lift it off the bottom.

Better bait though

Lol just throw it back like that you’ll catch a catfish