Species profile
Mottled Sculpin
Cottus bairdii
Bony fishIUCN: Least Concern2.7K iNat observations
At a glance
Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdii) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 1,979 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Ohio, Michigan, and Ontario the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Adults rarely exceed 5 inches in length.
- Lacks a swim bladder, keeping it permanently on the stream bottom.
- Males guard egg clusters attached to the underside of rocks after spawning.
- Thrives in cold, clear, fast-moving streams with gravel substrate.
- Typical wild lifespan is 3–5 years.
Where Mottled Sculpin are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Mottled Sculpin
Background
The mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdii) is a freshwater sculpin (family Cottidae) found widely although unevenly throughout North America.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Mottled Sculpin 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.