Anyone else have trouble identifying between the two largest fish shadow sizes?

[AlyssaAC]

I'm trying to find a coelacanth right now, but every time I think I see one, it ends up being a sea bass... Sometimes between the two largest fish shadow sizes, it's really hard to tell if it's a rare fish or just a sea bass. Anyone else have this problem?

 

[Corrie]

I'm bad at telling the difference between fish shadow sizes too! Especially ones that are the largest and the second largest. I find myself catching the second largest, thinking that it's the biggest and getting the surprised Pikachu meme face when it's a fish from the second largest shadow.

 

[Honesta]

The only obvious shadows for me are the smallest and the shadows with a fin... lol, beyond that, unless they are close to each other, I don't know what I'm fishing for until I'm reeling it in. XD

 

[meggiewes]

I can't really tell the difference unless it is really tiny, finned, or really long. It is always a surprise for me!

 

[TheKryptoKnight]

If I'm looking at the largest size, I know it's the largest every single time. Know it when I see it.. But sometimes when looking at sea bass size, I think it's the largest and it's not. So really, my rule should be, if there's any doubt, it's not the largest. XD

 

[John Wick]

They're a bit bigger than bass.

Same as marlin and the oarfish.

 

[TheSillyPuppy]

You're definitely not alone! "When in doubt, fish it out" is the mantra I go by.

 

[Dunquixote]

You're definitely not alone! "When in doubt, fish it out" is the mantra I go by.

I like that one . Lately, I haven’t been fishing but I definitely have trouble with those two sizes (sometimes also with the smaller ones like knowing which one was a betta was a pain). I just fish them all up and whatever extras I get I sell unless it is a sea bass or black bass (sometimes others like the flounder); those i release it and sometimes in the wrong water.

 

[visibleghost]

every time i see a big fish i think it's going to be something cool and it Always ends up being a sea bass, even when the shadow seems too big. this is why i have trust issues

 

[Le Ham]

Well, that's how they get ya! The sea bass wouldn't be as effective if you could tell it apart easily

 

[John Wick]

Well, that's how they get ya! The sea bass wouldn't be as effective if you could tell it apart easily

One thing I've noticed about the coelacanth, even as far back as WW, that makes it easier to spot it, (not always but usually) is that they don't usually turn towards the line/bait when it lands.

They turn away, whereas the bass will just go for it.

 

[Xara]

i honestly can’t tell the difference, either! there’s been so many times where i thought i had caught a sea bass, only for it to be a coelacanth or an oarfish lmao which uh,, was lowkey jarring

 

[elphieluvr]

It's also difficult if you play in both docked and handheld mode. Sometimes I play handheld, sometimes docked to my pc monitor, and sometimes to my tv. All the screens are different sizes, so it's hard for me to keep a reference in my head as to which size is which. This came up when I was trying to catch my mahi mahi. I caught dozens of sea bass trying to find that largest shadow.

 

[Che5hire Cat]

I remember how I was once on the hunt for the coelacanth and spent minutes over minutes staring at those shadows trying to figure out what it could be and which one is now bigger than the other only to end up getting a bunch of sea basses anyway. Later, I was actually able to catch a coelacanth randomly, which was a surprise for me, as I thought (by judging the size of the shadow) that would be another sea bass.

Otherwise, I have in general quite often the problem to identify any fish right by just it's shadow size. It always ends up with the fish I wasn't looking for.

 

[Hydrangea028]

It was difficult for me to identify too, unless I have them pair by pair in comparison. But lately I found I am better at identifying if I go fishing more. I felt like big fish such as coelacanth is slightly bigger. I think the size also seem different depends on where you stand too.

Or else, just like me, I’ll try to get every fish I could so that I won’t miss anything.

 

[Manah]

I couldn't tell you the difference but I have a pretty good feeling for when a fish seems a little too big. It's size 3 vs. size 4 I can't memorize to save my life.

 

[Islander]

I can't really tell the difference either. I just optimistically think that its the big fish I want but try to persuade myself that its just a sea bass so I'm not disappointed - it never works! That's why I prefer bugs to fishing as I can at least know what I'm catching if I'm looking for anything in particular.

 

[Uffe]

All the time! I just throw the line and hope that I catch what I want.

 

[dizzy bone]

I can somewhat tell the difference but nowadays I prioritise what I catch based on what body of water. If it's any slightly large fish in the water when I know there's dorados or sturgeons, I'll always catch it (then again some fish like sturgeon seem really obvious). I ignore most things in the sea unless it has a fin or unless it's raining. When I was hunting for a coelacanth I basically tried for any large fish that was "sea bass size" or larger just to be sure. I like to fish at night so sometimes it's hard to tell the sizes lol.

 

[Bilaz]

I dooo
I just gave up and fished up size 4, 5 AND 6 when looking for the mahi mahi, because I was worried about missing it lol