Grubbies on the Fly

 Grubby, or little sculpins, are a fairly abundant species throughout New England Coastal waters. They are a small sculpin species that inhabits rocky inshore and even inter-tidal habitats. Nobody really fishes for grubbies. They're too small to eat, for the most part, and aren't big enough to be called a game fish by much of anyone. I think they're pretty cool though, and every once in a while I try to catch some. 

Grubbies are very aggressive by nature and will eat just about anything that fits in their little mouths (actually pretty big mouths compared to their body). This included small nymphs dangled and bounced around the rocky crevices grubbies occupy. 

On a recent quick jaunt in Southern RI, I spent a little time fishing for these charismatic, little goobers. There were as many around as I'd ever seen, literally hundreds, though their exceptional camouflage made them difficult to see until a fly was introduced into the environment and they all came running to try to eat it. Young of the year winter flounder were also present but too small to catch on a size 16 hook. I've begun carrying tanago hooks again at all times so I stop having possible lifers like that slip away. Next time I'll use those. But the grubbies could sometimes get enough of my nymph in their mouth that I could hook them. Not often enough, but sometimes. 

At times, as many as 7 or 8 of the little buggers would be after the fly. They'd materialize seemingly out of nowhere, but in reality they were so well hidden that hundreds could hide within the rocks and vegetation. It was nice to have the opportunity to see a whole lot of them, because their color varied hugely. It's very cool to have not only a diversity of species around, but diversity within one of those species.

Being a life lister, there are loads of species I will only target once, and grubbies could have been one of those species. I do think, however, that catching just one of a species doesn't quite tell their story well enough. Sometimes going out and catching a bunch is warranted. Even if they're just tiny grubbies.

Until next time, 

Fish for the love of fish.

Fish for the love of places fish live.

Fish for you.

And stay safe and healthy.

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Edited by Cheyenne Terrien