Species profile
Common Shiner
Luxilus cornutus
Identify Common Shiner (Luxilus cornutus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 1 jurisdiction.
At a glance
Common Shiner (Luxilus cornutus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 2 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Confirmed by 4,029 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Ontario, Minnesota, and Wisconsin the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- One of the most abundant freshwater minnows in eastern North America, found in thousands of waterways.
- During spawning season, males develop small bony bumps called tubercles on their heads and snouts.
- Typically 3 to 6 inches long, they are a widely used live bait fish for bass fishing.
- Like striped shiners, common shiners spawn on creek chub nests rather than excavating their own.
- Highly adaptable, they thrive in streams, rivers, and lakes across a broad range of water conditions.
Where Common Shiner are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Common Shiner
Background
The common shiner (Luxilus cornutus) is a freshwater fish of the Cyprinidae family, found in North America. It ranges in length between 4 and 6 inches, although they can reach lengths of up to 8 inches.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Common Shiner article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Common Shiner?
Common Shiner (Luxilus cornutus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 2 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Common Shiner?
Common Shiner is Luxilus cornutus.
Is Common Shiner regulated for fishing?
Yes — Common Shiner has fishing regulations in 1 U.S. state and/or Canadian province tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Common Shiner?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Common Shiner along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.