The Nature Conservancy has named the round goby one of the five “usual suspects” invading the Great Lakes basin.
Round gobies are native to the Black and Caspian seas, but have found their way into the Mississippi River as well as Lake Michigan.
These fish have a heightened ability to sense water movement, allowing them to feed in the dark. Round gobies feed on native fish and their eggs, and have a “blood vendetta” against zebra mussels, according The Nature Conservancy.
These gobies can grow up to 10 inches in length and somewhat resemble an overgrown tadpole with black, gray or brown skin.
I caught one of these round goby fish in highland park in Toledo Ohio