The round goby, Neogobius melanostomus, is a freshwater fish native to Eurasia. It is thought to have been transported and accidentally released into the Great Lakes from the ballast water of an ocean-going ship. The round goby was first reported in Lake St. Clair in 1990. It has since spread into each of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River.

The round goby is a bottom dwelling fish. Males actively defend eggs laid by females in rocky crevices and are aggressive in nature. Gobies may compete with some native species for food and spawning habitat. They may also be a nuisance to fishermen because they are curious and able to rapidly attack bait, preventing anglers from catching their target sportfish.

Learning to identify the round goby and knowing where they are found are important steps toward preventing or deterring their spread to new areas.

Identifying Characteristics

The round goby is a bottom dwelling fish. It is the only fish found in the Great Lakes that has a single, fused pelvic fin. Identifying characteristics are shown on the image below.

---