Do snakeheads or dogfish have a red tail?

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Seems to me people should learn other names of fish rather than going by the actual name of the fish. True, a better description does help at times, but when a person mentions "dogfish" and a snakehead in the same sentence, they're more than likely referring to a bowfin.

Other names for Amia calva other than "dogfish" and "bowfin" are "mudfish", "grindle", "grinnel", "swamp muskie", "black fish", "cottonfish", "swamp bass", "poisson-castor", "speckled cat", "beaverfish", "cypress trout" and "lawyer". In some parts of Louisiana, they're called "tchoupique" or "choupique".

Just like a New York Times best selling author should have a vast vocabulary, a fisherman should have a vast aray of fish names, and that includes Latin name, English name, and "slang" names. Knowledge of the names they go by in their natural places helps too.

The redness of the fin could also be from blood collecting in that area, say if it was hanging from a stringer for a while....Show more

dogfish are normally saltwater fish. never seen one in frshwater.they are mostly greyish and look like a small shark.
Redtail could be a spot or red drum..or a redtail snapper.

snakeheads are freshwater crittersm they have a full length top fin and a nasty disposition. supposed to be good eatin.

Since you didnt say where you caught it, I'll take one last stab- if you caught a very ornate saltwater fish with vermillion/pink/redish color in the miami area, you may have a lionfish which caninflict a nasty sting from its fins.
The lionfish venon can be real nasty. but the flesh is supposed to be good eatin.

learn how to give more detailed info about the fish, where it was caught etc and you will get better answers....Show more

a dog fish is another name for sand shark around here

i think you may have a bow fin but post a pic and i sent a pic of a dog fish and one of a bow fin and snake head

the last pic is showing the difference is a bowfin and a snake head...Show more