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Photo of a Creek Chub

Species profile

Creek Chub

Semotilus atromaculatus

Bony fishIUCN: Least Concern13.2K iNat observations

Identify Creek Chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app.

At a glance

Creek Chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.

Confirmed by 11,916 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Ontario, Ohio, and Pennsylvania the top jurisdictions by observation count.

Notable details

  • Male creek chubs build gravel pit-and-ridge nests during the spring spawning season.
  • They are one of the most widespread stream fish across eastern North America.
  • Males develop small bony bumps called tubercles on their snouts when breeding.
  • Adults typically reach 6–10 inches, with some exceeding 12 inches in length.
  • They tolerate low oxygen and turbid water better than most other stream minnows.

Background

Semotilus atromaculatus, the creek chub or the common creek chub, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Leuciscidae. This species is found in the eastern US and Canada. Differing in size and color depending on origin of development, the creek chub can usually be defined by a dark brown body with a black lateral line spanning horizontally across the body. It lives…

Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Creek Chub article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.

Frequently asked questions

What is Creek Chub?

Creek Chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.

What is the scientific name for Creek Chub?

Creek Chub is Semotilus atromaculatus.

Are there fishing rules for Creek Chub?

Creek Chub does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.

How can I identify Creek Chub?

Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Creek Chub 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.