Blennies live in the Chesapeake Bay year-round and can be found near oyster reefs. In the winter, they are known to travel to the Bay’s deeper channels.

Feeding on mollusks and crustaceans, these olive green colored fish grow to be about 3 to 4 inches in length. The two types of blennies found in the Chesapeake Bay – the striped and feather species – have different appearances. The striped, as described by their name, have lines that run along their sides. The feather blennies have two feathery, branching tentacles on their heads.

While found abundantly throughout the Bay, these fish are often hard to spot! They are solitary fish that like to hide in oyster shells and in other nooks on the floor of the Bay.

Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes updates!