Description
Appearance
- These unusual-looking fish have a slim, brownish black body with smooth skin and a flattened head.
- Distinctive barbels, whisker-like filaments of tissue, hang from the lower jaw and nostrils, and provide a sense of touch and smell.
- A fin stretches along the back half of the body.
Distribution
- Also known as freshwater cod or ling, burbot are found in lakes and streams throughout most of Alberta.
Natural History
Habitat
- Burbot prefer cooler water and are found near lake bottoms.
Food
- Burbot eat small fish, aquatic insects and even small rodents.
Reproduction and Growth
Breeding Behaviour
- Burbot spawn under the ice in the winter and early spring, and are extremely productive.
- Large females lay up to one million eggs.
Conservation and Management
Status
Classified as Secure in the current General Status of Alberta Wild Species report. See:
Current management
Fishing
Burbot are cool-water game fish subject to current Alberta sportfishing regulations. For details, see the My Wild Alberta website at:
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