11-98 



Atlantic MaokeTel 



Mackerel are important sport fish as well as having commercial 

 value. Schools of mackerel are nomadic, perhaps following abundant food 

 sources. Mackerel schools occasionally enter New Haven Harbor during 

 May, June or July, and, as is their habit, may spawn at that time. The 

 small schools which apparently occur in the harbor and the relatively 

 short time that they are present limits the importance of this species 

 to the harbor food chain. 



Pelagic Piscivores 



Weakfish 



Weakfish run into New Haven Harbor to spawn and feed from May 

 through October. The Harbor serves as feeding, spawning and nursery 

 ground to a large contingent of this excellent recreational species. 

 Large adults probably remain in the harbor to feed on the abundant bay 

 anchovy and Crangon, while the numerous juveniles feed on anchovy eggs, 

 larvae and other zooplankton. This species is, both by abundance and 

 appetite, exceptionally important to the harbor finfish assemblage and 

 food web. There are indications that New Haven Harbor may be one of the 

 best weakfish nursery grounds in the Long Island Sound area. There is 

 little sport fishing effort for this species in New Haven Harbor; 

 striped bass and bluefish are the primary objects of the sport fishery 

 in which weakfish are a welcome catch. 



Bluefish 



Like weakfish, bluefish utilize New Haven Harbor only during 

 the summer (June-October) . Unlike the weakfish, they use the estuary 

 solely as a feeding and nursery ground. Occasional adults and schools 

 of juveniles ("snappers") run into the harbor during the summer and fall 



