One of my favorite questions as a Sea Grant Extension Agent is, “What is this?” because it usually means I get to help a person identify some type of marine life. I got one of these calls the other day from a gentleman in McIntosh County who caught what was he thought was a freshwater prawn in his cast net. He had never seen something like it before and was concerned it might not be native. Fortunately, his catch turned out it to be a native cinnamon river shrimp (Macrobrachium acanthurus) which can be found in fresh to low salinity brackish waters in Georgia’s coastal rivers. This interaction was a great learning opportunity, but also an encouraging reminder to please reach out if you come across a fish or other marine life (like a cinnamon river shrimp) that you aren’t sure what it is! You never know when you may encounter a rare or non-native species that would be important to report.
One of the main reasons our EFMC team developed the “What’s My Bait?” website is to help others identify and better appreciate the rich biodiversity (particularly in fish) found in Georgia’s estuaries. Did you know that besides the species we have listed on the site, you can also submit your own pictures if you need help with identification? Submit Your Bait – Whats My Bait
Here are some tips that can help with the process.
- If you can, take multiple pictures of the organism from different angles. This can help compare photos in a fish identification guide or asking for help online. If it’s a fish, make sure the fins are spread out to show their shape and placement.
- Note whether it was caught or seen in salt or freshwater. If you are unsure, a general GPS point on a map helps.
- Details about how the organism was caught (i.e. seine net, vs. hook and line vs trap) can also be helpful.
