As Georgia’s coastal waters start to heat up so does the fishing especially for flounder, a popular target for many Georgia anglers. One of the most popular live baits for these delectable flatfish are what’s locally referred to as mud minnows. However, did you know that mud minnows aren’t actually minnows? In fact, their real name is mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) and they belong to a group of fishes known as killifish.

Mummichogs, like many killifish are what’s known as sexually dimorphic (i.e. males look different from the females.) Smaller females are brownish above and pale below with several dark vertical bars. However, as females grow larger, they lose these distinctive markings and appear paler in color. Males on the other hand tend to be dark green to olive with a yellowish underside. They have several bars and small spots on their sides that can be silvery white to yellow in color. These colors can be especially bright during their breeding season (spring through fall). Breeding males will also develop a dark spot near the rear of their dorsal fin. Mummichogs only live for about three years and can reach several inches in length. Females tend to grow larger than males.

Mummichogs are one of the most common fish species found in Georgia’s saltmarshes, tidal creeks and other shallow coastal habitats. They also serve as a critical link in the estuarine food web as they are an important food source for many recreationally important fish species along with various wading and sea birds. These schooling fish are also known for tolerating a wide variety of environmental conditions, and this hardiness is one of the reasons they are a such a popular bait choice among saltwater anglers.

Fun fact: Mummichogs get the name ‘mud minnow’ from the fact that they will commonly burrow in mud during colder periods.