While holding our "Catch of the Day" program at the Beczak Environmental Center we caught an oyster toadfish in our seine. It was about an inch long and blended in well with our net. It was the first time we had ever caught an oyster toadfish so we were quite excited.
- Susan Juggernauth
[Oyster toadfish, known colloquially as "oyster crackers," are common along the Atlantic Coast as well as in New York Harbor. They have strong, sharp teeth that they use to crush shellfish and are a good indicator of salinity. Bones of oyster toadfish dating to 4,000 years ago were found by archaeologists at Dogan Point (HRM 39.5) in Westchester County. It is believed that the river was saltier in prehistoric times and certainly supported a robust oyster population, prime forage for the oyster toad. Note by Tom Lake, Hudson River Almanac.]
