Species profile
Inconnu
Stenodus nelma
At a glance
Inconnu (Stenodus nelma) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 5 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Federal Waters (DFO)); the most generous is 10 (Alaska).
Confirmed by 34 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Northwest Territories, Alaska, and Yukon the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- 'Inconnu' is French for 'unknown,' the name French-Canadian traders gave this unfamiliar fish.
- The largest member of the whitefish family, it can exceed 50 pounds.
- Unlike most whitefish, it feeds primarily on other fish rather than invertebrates.
- It spawns in fall in large Arctic and subarctic rivers across Alaska and Canada.
- Inconnu can live more than 20 years.
Where Inconnu are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Inconnu
Background
Stenodus nelma, known alternatively as the nelma, sheefish, siifish, inconnu or connie, is a commercial species of freshwater whitefish in the family Salmonidae. It is widespread in the Arctic rivers from the Kola Peninsula (White Sea basin) eastward across Siberia to the Anadyr River and also in the North American basins of the Yukon River and Mackenzie River.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Inconnu article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.