Skip to main content

Mooneye ID

Hiodon alosoides
Also known as: often mistakenly called skipjack

Description: A silvery, flat-sided fish with unusually large gold eyes; teeth on jaws, roof of mouth, and tongue; triangular-shaped axillary process at base of pelvic fin; no long filament at back of dorsal fin; front of dorsal fin about even with front of anal fin; and a keel on midline of belly that lacks a saw-tooth edge and extends from vent nearly to pectoral fin bases. It is a fast-moving predator, capturing most of its prey at or near the surface. Diet consists of a wide variety of animals, but insects (aquatic and terrestrial) and small fish are primary food items. Provides angling excitement if taken on light tackle or fly rod – often leaping out of the water. Mooneye is a related species.

Family: Mooneye
Type: Sport Fish
Range: Larger rivers of eastern Nebraska.

Illustration of a goldeye
Goldeye. Image copyright Joseph R. Tomelleri.

Hiodon tergisus

Description: Mooneye differs in appearance from goldeye by having the front of the dorsal fin distinctly forward of the front of the anal fin, eyes relatively larger than in goldeye with a light shade of gold or silver (“full moon” color), and a belly keel that extends only from vent to pelvic fin bases. Its present population status is unknown in the state; report suspected captures to Nebraska Game and Parks’ River and Streams Program Manager.

Family: Mooneye
Type: Non-Game Fish
Range: Unknown. Suspect Missouri River only.

Animated Mooneye
Mooneye. Copyright Joseph R. Tomelleri

References

The Fishes of Nebraska by Hrabik, et. al (2015)

The Fish Book from NEBRASKAland Magazine (1987)

Related Content

Discover other fish species and resources to angling in Nebraska.

Nebraska Fish

Nebraska Fish

Learn about species of Nebraska fish.

Read More
Fishing Guide

Fishing Guide

Nebraska Game and Parks publishes an annual fishing guide with useful rules and regulations.

Read More
Learn to Fish

Learn to Fish

Looking for fishing advice from the experts? Check out these Nebraska fishing resources.

Read More