A Very Big Specklefin Midshipman
La Jolla Shores
March 4, 2002
Images © 2002 Paul Foretic
It's hard to tell because this guy is so old, but I
think - given the faint banding on his dorsal fin -
that
this guy is a specklefin midshipman and not a plainfin midshipman.
Generally, you see midshipmen that are only a couple
inches long.
This midshipman was 14-15 inches
long!
Specklefin midshipmen are listed with a maximum
length of 20 inches;
Plainfin midshipmen are listed
with a maximum length of 15 inches, but a normal length of 2-5
inches.
Comparing the midshipman to my light and mask,
in this photo and the next one,
I'd
very crudely guess that he's 14-15 inches long.
