Presentation of the round goby
The bighead goby is a member of the gobiidae family and its scientific name is Gobius cobitis. An atypical fish with its head wider than high, hence its name, and its prominent lips.
Sometimes called giant goby, masta goby, GT goby or cephalot goby, the round goby varies from brown to black depending on the biotopes it frequents and the season. It has a pelvic fin in the shape of a sucker and large globular eyes.
A goby that can reach 30 centimeters and can live for about ten years.
Behavior and diet
The fathead goby is a very wary fish that spends much of its time in or near its cache. A benthic fish, the round goby can be found in a few centimeters of water up to a depth of about ten meters. It frequents many different biotopes, rocky coasts, dykes and harbor areas, sandy-muddy bottoms. It is also able to live in brackish water and to survive out of water a few minutes.
The round goby feeds on crabs, arapids and small crustaceans. It has powerful jaws that allow it to crush crabs and shellfish. A fish that rarely moves far from its hole to look for food, and quickly returns to it at the slightest alert.
In period of reproduction, the male raises a superb black livery with blue borders on the whole of its fins.
Fishing for round goby
The masta goby is a highly sought-after fish for no-kill rockfishing enthusiasts. Moving your soft lure into the crevices and catching a masta goby is an intense moment when fishing with an ultra-light rod.
It is also possible to look for them by fishing with baits such as pieces of worms or shrimps. But to give yourself the best chance of success, make sure to place the bait near holes that could hide a goby of this size. A fun and easy fishery to practice with children.
