10/11/2026
Hudson River Park’s Fish Ecology Survey has been running continuously for 38 years. As we officially head into autumn, it’s time for our end-of-summer wrap-up to tally up the most caught fish from June to August. Swipe through to see which species made it onto the podium this year!
🥇 Oyster toadfish (427)
The oyster toadfish is once again the most-caught fish in our trap survey! This summer, Park scientists caught a whopping 427 toadfish at our Pier 26 and Pier 40 monitoring sites. Known for their fearsome bite and froggy croak, the toadfish is a staff favorite because of their silly expressions and resilient nature.
🥈 Blackfish (117)
Blackfish, also known as tautogs, were the second most-caught fish this summer. Blackfish are a mottled black and brown to camouflage against dark surfaces, like rocks and wood, at the bottom of the River.
🥉 Black sea bass (30)
Our third most abundant fish for the summer was the black sea bass. These fish have tiny teeth, forming rough pads to help them grip their food as they swallow it whole. Found inshore from Massachusetts to the Gulf of Mexico, these savvy swimmers eat crab, shrimp and smaller fish.
