Other Saltwater
Tautog
Tautoga onitis
SaltwaterLabridaeLeast Concern
About
The Tautog, also known as blackfish, is a bottom-dwelling fish with thick lips and strong jaws used for crushing shellfish. They are known for their ability to change sex, starting as females and sometimes transitioning to males later in life.
- Average size
- 16-20 inches, 3-5 lbs (can reach up to 3 feet and 25 lbs)
- Colors
- Variable, ranging from black or dark brown to greenish or bluish-gray. Younger fish often have mottled patterns.
- Diet
- Crabs, mussels, clams, barnacles, and other invertebrates found on the seabed.
- Region
- Atlantic coast of North America, from Nova Scotia to South Carolina
