Guess The Specie

[huntnphool]

 A buddy in Tacoma got to his boat at the marina and had a stick rubbing up against his boat. He pulled up the stick and had this attached by its mouth.

 Can you guess what it is?

 Russ, you don’t get too!

[Dan-o]

It's ugly, whatever it is. 

[huntnphool]

It's ugly, whatever it is.

 

 Answer must be specific!

[Dan-o]

Fine. 
It a Huntnphool Halibut

[EmeraldBullet2]

Tough call but either coyote or bobcat, 100% sure

[huntnphool]

Fine. 
It a Huntnphool Halibut

Tough call but either coyote or bobcat, 100% sure

 

[Parasite]

kelp greenling

[Alchase]

kelp greenling

 

Still dang ugly!

[jackelope]

I’m also going with kelp greenling. They’re delicious.

[boneaddict]

I'm not sure that one would make it on deck.   

[buckfvr]

Entirely too fugly to eat (or deck).   

[pianoman9701]

Any guesses on what he scores?

[CP]

Image search tells me it’s a slug. 

[KNOPHISH]

Is that Lorna Smith?

[pianoman9701]

Is that Lorna Smith?

Now, apologize to the Kelp Greenling.

[KP-Skagit]

Sure has some greenling characteristics but the head/mouth is wrong among other things. And the story implies it was a sucker of some type, not like a greenling. It looks like a flatfish that is just starting to turn over as it matures. I would be curious to hear overall size.

[LDennis24]

It's a kelp greenling, but it sure looks like a bullhead catfish too. 

[Rugsnfeathers]

The lower half indicates more like a kelp greenling as everybody has pointed out, but the head looks like a mutation!

[Bullkllr]

Sure has some greenling characteristics but the head/mouth is wrong among other things. And the story implies it was a sucker of some type, not like a greenling. It looks like a flatfish that is just starting to turn over as it matures. I would be curious to hear overall size.

I agree with KP.

At a glance it looks 'greenlingish', but several features are unlike any greenling I've ever seen. It would have to be severely mutated.

If it's from near the Port of Tacoma or any other super-fund site that could explain a lot.

Looks more like a weird tomcod to me.

[LDennis24]

Is it a Lingreen? 

[7mmfan]

It looks like a burbot, not sure why it would be in saltwater though.

[huntnphool]

 Nope, keep guessing!

[MeepDog]

Looks kinda like a monkey face prickleback eel but it isn't one.

[7mmfan]

Catfish?

[Rob]

Looks like a yellow catfish.  But hard to tell from the photo. 

Are you sharing if it is fresh or salr water?

[Cylvertip]

Still thinking bobcat.....

If not maybe a young halibut?

[Backstrap]

Corn speckled brown trout?

[Tbar]

Snailfish?

[Rob]

Red brotula.

We use to see them diving at Les Davis

[Bullkllr]

I don't know. I went through this list https://www.eopugetsound.org/sites/default/files/features/resources/FishesoftheSalishSea_Pietsch_and_Orr.pdf
and tried to look up any thing I thought had a chance. Closest I could come up with was a 'prowfish', but there seem to be significant differences there too.

[Alchase]

I don't know. I went through this list https://www.eopugetsound.org/sites/default/files/features/resources/FishesoftheSalishSea_Pietsch_and_Orr.pdf
and tried to look up any thing I thought had a chance. Closest I could come up with was a 'prowfish', but there seem to be significant differences there too.

Well if nothing else that one has the shiny slimy thing going on. 

[huntnphool]

Snailfish?

 Well done, Lobe Fin Snailfish