Smooth Dogfish (Mustelus canis)

dogfish, surf fishing, Cape Henlopen State Park, the point, sussex county, delaware, hound shark, — dogfish caught at Cape Henlopen State Park the point

Also known as … dusky smooth-hound, smooth dogfish, hound shark

Description …

Smooth dogfish are basically the same as spiny dogfish. Except for the lack of the dorsal spines, and smooth dogfish have an anal fin. Their jaw features flat, almost pavement like teeth, relatively small eyes with a spiracle or air hole behind the eyes. They are gray to brownish along the back fading to a pale gray along the sides with a white belly. they also do not have the distinct white spots that occur on juvenile spiny dogfish. Females live to 16 years and males have a lifespan of 10 years. They are popular fish for public aquarium displays.

They can be caught in the same manner as their cousin the spiny dogfish and also be a nuisance in the surf hitting just about all baits you can imagine. They are more or less scavengers, but will hunt for small fish and crustaceans.

Delaware Creel Limit … None