Ontario Round Goby

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“Round Goby” (Neogobius melanostomus)

The goby, Neogobius melanostomus, is a bottom dwelling fish with a large head, resembling a tadpole, which can grow to be 250 mm (10 inches). First discovered in Lake St. Clair in 1990, presumably introduced via ballast water from transoceanic vessels, the round goby and the tubenose goby have spread to lakes Erie, Michigan and Superior and to many rivers including the Mississippi watershed. Round gobies are thriving in the Great Lakes Basin because they are aggressive, voracious feeders which can forage in total darkness. The round goby takes over prime spawning sites traditionally used by native species, competing with native fish for habitat and changing the balance of the ecosystem.

SOURCE: “Round Gobies Invade North America” 1995. Great Lakes Sea Grant Network
SLIDE. Jude, D. “Round Goby in Fish Tank” CGLAS (on NIS site)

The round goby is a small, bottom-dwelling fish from eastern Europe that was introduced to the St. Clair River via ballast water in the late 1980s. It is now found in all of the Great Lakes except Lake Ontario.

The round goby is an aggressive fish that can spawn several times per year, grow up to 25 cm (9.8 in.) in length, and compete with native bottom-dwelling fish species. Round gobies are expected to be harmful to Great Lakes and inland fisheries.

Although gobies are not legal bait-fish, they look very similar to our native sculpins which can be used as bait.

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