Walleyes eating Gobies

[NavTech]

Does anyone know if this is happening? Fishing for jumbo perch in Lake Michigan, I was catching an occasional gobie upwards to 7 inches long and fatter than a stuffed pig. Caught them on minnows too. I've caught gobies that were about an inch long too on single egg setups. Do gobies have any worry about predators? Anybody see a goby in the bell of a walleye? RKW

[Toolman]

This isn't a Biologist's perspective, but I have to believe that gobies have become a big part of walleyes diet in many bodies of water, as gobies become more abundant. I've often found gobies in walleye's stomachs when I clean them and quite a few regurgitated in the livewell.

The last goby I found in the livewell was interesting (to me) because it came from the stomach of a walleye that was caught very high in the water column in 35 FOW, and it was barely digested. From what I've read and know of gobies, the are a very bottom oriented fish. That walleye must have come up from feeding down deep pretty fast.

There is some pretty good info on gobies on the Ohio Sea Grant board. Check out:
http://www.sg.ohio-state.edu/discus/messages/board-topics.html

Tim

[cecil]

here in the detroit river they eat a lot of them ,in late spring and summer i have caugh a lot of walleye with gobie in them.
a 16 inch walleye will take a 6 inch gobie

[Tom B]

I have read that smalllies really like gobies also.

Tom B

[Papascott]

Two years ago I hooked a gobie while casting a weapon only to have a walleye hit the gobie. It was neat to see two fish both hooked in the corner of the mouth on a small single gold hook.

Scott

[Old man Erie]

Here is a link to an artical a couple of years back from the Toledo Blade on the subject. I think it is the same WalleyeWiz that post on here.
Erie Guy



http://www.boatersdream.com/libarticles.cfm?ArticleID=1038

[MSUICEMAN]

lots of things like gobies.... sturgeon, smallmouth, walleye, and perch will all munch on em in the waters i fish.