Identification is not a regulation.
Confirm the species before taking a shot and check the current regulations for the exact water and state where you are diving.
All species
Salmon & trout
Coregonids & coldwater fish
Warmwater game fish
Other native fish
Suckers & carp
Protected & invasive awareness
23 species shown
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Salmon & trout
Introduced / restored
Atlantic Salmon
Salmo salar
Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan (localized), St. Marys River
Uncommon and easily confused with other salmonids. Verify carefully before harvest.
Black spots are concentrated mostly above the lateral line
Tail may be only slightly forked and usually has few or no spots
Anal fin typically has 9–10 rays
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Identifying features
Black spots are concentrated mostly above the lateral line
Tail may be only slightly forked and usually has few or no spots
Anal fin typically has 9–10 rays
Narrow, pointed vomerine tongue with 4–6 small teeth
Upper jaw usually reaches the rear edge of the eye
Caudal peduncle is narrow and tapered
Common look-alikes
Brown trout, steelhead, coho salmon and Chinook salmon. Anal-fin ray count, tail spotting, gum color and tongue shape are the most useful checks.
Where it is commonly seen
Cold open water and tributaries; especially associated with the St. Marys River and localized stocking waters.
Michigan DNR Atlantic salmon profile
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Salmon & trout
Native
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
Great Lakes: Superior; northern Michigan and Huron coasts; cold tributaries
Great Lakes “coaster” brook trout can be much larger and more silver than stream fish.
Light, wormlike vermiculations across the dark back
Red spots may have blue halos
Lower fins have a white leading edge followed by a black band
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Identifying features
Light, wormlike vermiculations across the dark back
Red spots may have blue halos
Lower fins have a white leading edge followed by a black band
Tail is square or only slightly forked
Large mouth extends beyond the rear of the eye
Spawning males become vivid orange-red along the lower sides
Common look-alikes
Splake and lake trout. Brook trout have a squarer tail and stronger vermiculations; lake trout have a deeply forked tail.
Where it is commonly seen
Cold tributaries, spring-fed water and rocky nearshore Great Lakes habitat.
Michigan DNR brook trout profile
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Salmon & trout
Introduced
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
Great Lakes: All Great Lakes and tributaries
Lake-run brown trout may be very silver and show fewer obvious body spots.
Tail is generally square rather than deeply forked
Black spots and often red or orange spots on the body
Upper jaw usually extends beyond the rear of the eye
View full identification
Identifying features
Tail is generally square rather than deeply forked
Black spots and often red or orange spots on the body
Upper jaw usually extends beyond the rear of the eye
Light-colored pectoral fins
Anal fin typically has 9–10 rays
Broad square tongue with 11–12 relatively large vomerine teeth
Common look-alikes
Atlantic salmon and steelhead. Check tail shape, anal-ray count, jaw length and tongue teeth.
Where it is commonly seen
Rocky nearshore water, river mouths and tributaries; often shallow in spring and fall.
Michigan DNR brown trout profile
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Salmon & trout
Introduced
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Great Lakes: Michigan, Huron, Ontario, Superior and tributaries
Often the largest Pacific salmon in the Great Lakes.
Inside of mouth is black, including the gums
Black spots occur on both lobes of the tail
Anal fin usually has 15–17 rays
View full identification
Identifying features
Inside of mouth is black, including the gums
Black spots occur on both lobes of the tail
Anal fin usually has 15–17 rays
Large, deep-bodied fish with a powerful caudal peduncle
Upper jaw extends well beyond the rear of the eye
Spawning adults darken strongly and males may develop a hooked jaw
Common look-alikes
Coho and pink salmon. Coho gums are grayish or pale and tail spots are mainly on the upper lobe.
Where it is commonly seen
Open-water pelagic habitat; returns to tributaries and river mouths to spawn.
Michigan DNR Chinook salmon profile
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Salmon & trout
Introduced
Coho Salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Great Lakes: Michigan, Huron, Ontario, Superior and tributaries
Body shape and color shift substantially during the spawning run.
Mouth is dark but gums are grayish or pale rather than solid black
Tail spots are usually limited to the upper lobe
Anal fin usually has 13–15 rays
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Identifying features
Mouth is dark but gums are grayish or pale rather than solid black
Tail spots are usually limited to the upper lobe
Anal fin usually has 13–15 rays
Caudal peduncle is relatively narrow
Jaw reaches to or slightly beyond the rear of the eye
Teeth are prominent and the tail is moderately forked
Common look-alikes
Chinook salmon and steelhead. Gum color, tail spotting and anal-ray count are key.
Where it is commonly seen
Open water and nearshore zones; adults return to tributaries to spawn.
Michigan DNR coho salmon profile
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Salmon & trout
Native
Lake Trout
Salvelinus namaycush
Great Lakes: All five Great Lakes
Michigan:
Conditional / limited
Conditional. Underwater spearing is allowed only in specified portions of Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie and Superior. A free annual underwater spearfishing license, location-specific season and size limits, and all closures apply.
View current Michigan fishing regulations ↗
A native char and one of the defining coldwater fishes of the Great Lakes.
Light spots cover a dark gray, olive or nearly black background
Body becomes progressively lighter toward a white belly
Tail is deeply forked with nearly equal lobes
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Identifying features
Light spots cover a dark gray, olive or nearly black background
Body becomes progressively lighter toward a white belly
Tail is deeply forked with nearly equal lobes
Lower fins often have orange color and a white leading edge
Anal fin has about 8–10 rays with a white leading edge
Both a dorsal fin and a small adipose fin are present
Common look-alikes
Splake and brook trout. Lake trout have the deepest tail fork and lack the brook trout’s strong wormlike back pattern.
Where it is commonly seen
Deep cold water for much of summer; shallower rocky shoals and reefs in cool seasons.
Michigan DNR lake trout profile
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Salmon & trout
Introduced
Pink Salmon
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Great Lakes: Superior; northern Huron and Michigan; St. Marys River
Spawning males develop a pronounced hump and both sexes change color.
Large oval black spots occur on the back and tail
Anal fin usually has 13–19 rays
Mouth and gums are light, but the tongue is dark
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Identifying features
Large oval black spots occur on the back and tail
Anal fin usually has 13–19 rays
Mouth and gums are light, but the tongue is dark
Body scales are notably small
Lake-run fish are mostly silver
Spawning males develop a high hump and hooked jaw
Common look-alikes
Chinook and coho salmon. Pink salmon have large oval tail spots, small scales and pale gums.
Where it is commonly seen
Cold open water; most often encountered near Lake Superior tributaries and the St. Marys system.
Michigan DNR pink salmon profile
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Salmon & trout
Introduced
Rainbow Trout / Steelhead
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Great Lakes: All five Great Lakes and tributaries
“Steelhead” refers to migratory rainbow trout living in the Great Lakes.
Dark spots cover the back and both lobes of the tail
Tail spots often form fairly orderly rows
A pink or reddish side band may be visible, especially in spawning fish
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Identifying features
Dark spots cover the back and both lobes of the tail
Tail spots often form fairly orderly rows
A pink or reddish side band may be visible, especially in spawning fish
Inside of mouth is pale or white rather than black
Tail is square to moderately forked
Anal fin usually has about 10–12 rays
Common look-alikes
Coho, Chinook, Atlantic salmon and brown trout. Tail spotting and mouth color are fast checks.
Where it is commonly seen
Open Great Lakes water with seasonal runs into tributaries.
Michigan DNR steelhead profile
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Salmon & trout
Hybrid
Splake
Salvelinus fontinalis × Salvelinus namaycush
Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan and Huron (localized stocking)
A hatchery hybrid between brook trout and lake trout; appearance is variable.
Light spots appear on a dark background
Back may show brook-trout-like wormlike markings
Tail is more forked than a brook trout but usually less deeply forked than a lake trout
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Identifying features
Light spots appear on a dark background
Back may show brook-trout-like wormlike markings
Tail is more forked than a brook trout but usually less deeply forked than a lake trout
Lower fins often have bright white leading edges
Red or orange spots may occur on the sides
Overall body shape is intermediate between the parent species
Common look-alikes
Brook trout and lake trout. Tail shape is useful but hybrids vary, so use several traits together.
Where it is commonly seen
Cold lakes and Great Lakes bays where stocked.
Michigan DNR lake trout and splake profile
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Coregonids & coldwater fish
Native
Lake Whitefish
Coregonus clupeaformis
Great Lakes: All five Great Lakes
A major native food fish and commercial species.
Small head relative to the body
Mouth is subterminal and points slightly downward
Silvery body with relatively large scales
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Identifying features
Small head relative to the body
Mouth is subterminal and points slightly downward
Silvery body with relatively large scales
Tail is deeply forked
Small adipose fin is present
Body is deeper and more robust than a cisco
Common look-alikes
Cisco and round whitefish. Lake whitefish have a smaller, downward-facing mouth and a deeper body.
Where it is commonly seen
Cold open water, reefs and near-bottom habitat; commonly schools.
Michigan DNR lake whitefish profile
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Coregonids & coldwater fish
Native
Cisco / Lake Herring
Coregonus artedi
Great Lakes: All five Great Lakes
An important native forage fish; also called lake herring or tullibee.
Slender, laterally compressed silver body
Mouth is terminal and lower jaw may project slightly
Large eye relative to the head
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Identifying features
Slender, laterally compressed silver body
Mouth is terminal and lower jaw may project slightly
Large eye relative to the head
Deeply forked tail
Small adipose fin is present
Back is blue-green to gray and sides are bright silver
Common look-alikes
Lake whitefish, bloater and alewife. Cisco have a more terminal mouth and more slender body than lake whitefish.
Where it is commonly seen
Open-water schools in cool and cold water.
Minnesota DNR cisco profile
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Coregonids & coldwater fish
Native
Burbot
Lota lota
Great Lakes: All five Great Lakes
The Great Lakes’ only freshwater member of the cod family.
One distinct barbel hangs from the chin
Body is long, soft and eel-like
Two dorsal fins; the second is extremely long
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Identifying features
One distinct barbel hangs from the chin
Body is long, soft and eel-like
Two dorsal fins; the second is extremely long
Anal fin is also long
Tail is rounded
Mottled olive, brown and cream pattern
Common look-alikes
Bowfin and invasive snakehead. Burbot have a chin barbel and two dorsal fins, with the second dorsal very long.
Where it is commonly seen
Cold deep water, rocky areas and winter spawning shoals.
Minnesota DNR burbot profile
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Coregonids & coldwater fish
Introduced
Rainbow Smelt
Osmerus mordax
Great Lakes: All five Great Lakes
Small schooling forage fish; often identified during spring spawning runs.
Long, slender silver body
Sides show purple, pink and blue iridescence
Small adipose fin is present
View full identification
Identifying features
Long, slender silver body
Sides show purple, pink and blue iridescence
Small adipose fin is present
Large mouth has visible teeth
Tail is deeply forked
Body is much narrower than an alewife
Common look-alikes
Alewife and emerald shiner. Smelt have an adipose fin and obvious teeth.
Where it is commonly seen
Cool open water; enters tributaries in spring to spawn.
Michigan DNR rainbow smelt profile
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Warmwater game fish
Native
Walleye
Sander vitreus
Great Lakes: All five Great Lakes; especially Erie, Huron and connecting waters
Michigan:
Conditional / limited
Conditional. Underwater spearing is allowed only in specified portions of Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie and Superior. A free annual underwater spearfishing license, location-specific season and size limits, and all closures apply.
View current Michigan fishing regulations ↗
A major Great Lakes predator and food fish.
Large reflective “glassy” eyes
Large canine teeth in the jaws
White tip on the lower lobe of the tail
View full identification
Identifying features
Large reflective “glassy” eyes
Large canine teeth in the jaws
White tip on the lower lobe of the tail
Dark blotch at the rear base of the first dorsal fin
Olive-gold body with darker saddle-like markings
Two separate dorsal fins
Common look-alikes
Sauger and saugeye. Walleye usually have the white lower-tail tip and a dark first-dorsal blotch; sauger have rows of dorsal spots.
Where it is commonly seen
Rocky reefs, open water, river mouths and turbid bays.
Michigan DNR walleye profile
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Warmwater game fish
Native
Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens
Great Lakes: All five Great Lakes
Michigan:
Conditional / limited
Conditional. Michigan allows hand-propelled spear, bow or crossbow harvest on Lake St. Clair from Dec. 1 through March 15. It is not a general underwater-speargun opportunity.
View current Michigan fishing regulations ↗
Common schooling panfish in bays, harbors and nearshore water.
Yellow to golden body
Six to nine dark vertical bars on the sides
Orange or reddish pelvic and anal fins
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Identifying features
Yellow to golden body
Six to nine dark vertical bars on the sides
Orange or reddish pelvic and anal fins
Two separate dorsal fins
Small teeth without the large canines of walleye
Body is deeper and shorter than a walleye
Common look-alikes
White perch and juvenile walleye. Yellow perch have bold vertical bars and orange lower fins.
Where it is commonly seen
Nearshore water, vegetation, sand and gravel flats, bays and harbors.
Michigan DNR yellow perch profile
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Warmwater game fish
Native
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
Great Lakes: All five Great Lakes and connecting waters
Especially abundant around rocky shorelines, reefs and clear-water bays.
Upper jaw does not extend beyond the rear of the eye
Bronze, brown or olive body
Dark vertical bars often appear on the sides
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Identifying features
Upper jaw does not extend beyond the rear of the eye
Bronze, brown or olive body
Dark vertical bars often appear on the sides
Dorsal fins are connected with a shallow notch
Body is more streamlined than largemouth bass
Eye may appear red or orange
Common look-alikes
Largemouth bass. Largemouth have a jaw extending beyond the eye and a deeper notch between dorsal fins.
Where it is commonly seen
Rocky reefs, boulders, breakwalls, current seams and clear nearshore water.
Michigan DNR smallmouth bass profile
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Warmwater game fish
Native
Northern Pike
Esox lucius
Great Lakes: All five Great Lakes; bays, marshes and connecting waters
Michigan:
Conditional / limited
Conditional. Underwater spearing is allowed only in specified Great Lakes waters, with a July 1–March 15 possession season and other location, size and license rules. Separate winter hand-spearing rules also exist.
View current Michigan fishing regulations ↗
Long-bodied ambush predator common in vegetated nearshore habitat.
Long torpedo-shaped body
Broad duckbill-shaped snout
Light oval or bean-shaped spots on a darker body
View full identification
Identifying features
Long torpedo-shaped body
Broad duckbill-shaped snout
Light oval or bean-shaped spots on a darker body
Single dorsal fin sits far back near the tail
Cheek and upper half of gill cover are fully scaled
Tail is deeply forked
Common look-alikes
Muskellunge. Pike have light spots on a dark body and more scaling on the cheek and gill cover.
Where it is commonly seen
Vegetated bays, marsh edges, river mouths and shallow nearshore zones.
Michigan DNR northern pike profile
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Other native fish
Native
Freshwater Drum
Aplodinotus grunniens
Great Lakes: Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario and connecting waters
An overlooked native food fish also called sheepshead.
Deep, rounded and laterally compressed body
Silvery gray color with a high arched back
Blunt snout and mouth positioned low on the head
View full identification
Identifying features
Deep, rounded and laterally compressed body
Silvery gray color with a high arched back
Blunt snout and mouth positioned low on the head
Long dorsal fin
Rounded or only slightly pointed tail
Lateral line continues through the tail fin
Common look-alikes
White bass and common carp. Drum lack barbels, have a more humped profile and have a lateral line continuing onto the tail.
Where it is commonly seen
Bays, rivers, sandy or muddy flats and nearshore Great Lakes water.
Minnesota DNR freshwater drum profile
↗
Suckers & carp
Introduced
Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
Great Lakes: All five Great Lakes; bays and tributaries
Do not confuse common carp with invasive bighead, silver or black carp.
One small barbel at each corner of the mouth
Large, obvious scales cover the body
Long dorsal fin with a strong serrated leading spine
View full identification
Identifying features
One small barbel at each corner of the mouth
Large, obvious scales cover the body
Long dorsal fin with a strong serrated leading spine
Bronze, gold or dark brown body
Thick lips and a blunt snout
Tail is forked and fins may be reddish
Common look-alikes
Buffalo species and suckers. Common carp have mouth-corner barbels; native buffalo and suckers do not.
Where it is commonly seen
Shallow warm bays, river mouths, canals and vegetated flats.
Michigan DNR common carp and suckers profile
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Suckers & carp
Native
White Sucker
Catostomus commersonii
Great Lakes: All five Great Lakes and tributaries
Common spring-run sucker and traditional food fish.
Downward-facing sucker mouth with no barbels
Long cylindrical body
Single soft-rayed dorsal fin
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Identifying features
Downward-facing sucker mouth with no barbels
Long cylindrical body
Single soft-rayed dorsal fin
Scales are coarse and become smaller near the head
Greenish or gray back with pale underside
Young fish may show three large dark side blotches
Common look-alikes
Longnose sucker and redhorse species. White sucker scales change noticeably in size toward the head.
Where it is commonly seen
Rivers, tributaries, bays and shallow spawning areas.
Michigan DNR common carp and suckers profile
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Suckers & carp
Native
Longnose Sucker
Catostomus catostomus
Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron and cold tributaries
Coldwater sucker that often makes later spring runs than white sucker.
Long projecting snout
Mouth is set back on the underside behind the snout tip
Fine scales are relatively uniform over the body
View full identification
Identifying features
Long projecting snout
Mouth is set back on the underside behind the snout tip
Fine scales are relatively uniform over the body
Long cylindrical profile
Single soft-rayed dorsal fin
Spawning fish may develop a rosy red stripe along the sides
Common look-alikes
White sucker and redhorse species. The projecting snout and finer, more even scales separate it from white sucker.
Where it is commonly seen
Cold Great Lakes water, deeper bays and tributary spawning runs.
Michigan DNR common carp and suckers profile
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Protected & invasive awareness
Native
Lake Sturgeon
Acipenser fulvescens
Great Lakes: All five Great Lakes and major tributaries
Michigan:
Not legal to spear
Not legal to spear in Michigan Great Lakes waters. A separate, quota-controlled Black Lake winter season may allow ice spearing; that exception does not apply to Great Lakes diving.
View current Michigan fishing regulations ↗
Protected or tightly regulated across the region. Never assume harvest is legal.
Five rows of hard bony plates called scutes
Sharklike tail with upper lobe longer than lower lobe
Four barbels hang ahead of the mouth
View full identification
Identifying features
Five rows of hard bony plates called scutes
Sharklike tail with upper lobe longer than lower lobe
Four barbels hang ahead of the mouth
Toothless, protrusible mouth is on the underside of the head
Long pointed snout, especially in younger fish
Body has an armored prehistoric appearance
Common look-alikes
No common Great Lakes fish is very similar. Juveniles can still be mistaken at a glance for other bottom fish, so check scutes and tail shape.
Where it is commonly seen
Large rivers, deep channels, shoals and Great Lakes nearshore areas.
Michigan DNR lake sturgeon profile
↗
Protected & invasive awareness
Invasive
Round Goby
Neogobius melanostomus
Great Lakes: All five Great Lakes and connecting waters
Established invasive species. Rules about possession and transport vary; check the current state regulations.
Pelvic fins are fused into a single suction-disc shape
Distinct black spot near the rear of the first dorsal fin
Older fish are mottled brown and black; young fish are slate gray
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Identifying features
Pelvic fins are fused into a single suction-disc shape
Distinct black spot near the rear of the first dorsal fin
Older fish are mottled brown and black; young fish are slate gray
Large rounded head with prominent eyes
Small bottom-dwelling body
Often perches directly on rocks and hard substrate
Common look-alikes
Native sculpins and tubenose goby. Native sculpins do not have fused pelvic fins; tubenose goby lacks the round goby’s black dorsal spot.
Where it is commonly seen
Rock, rubble, breakwalls, sand and other bottom habitat from shallow water to offshore zones.
Michigan Invasive Species round goby profile
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