I pricked with a sea ruff what to do. The Black Sea scorpion is beautiful and dangerous. Diet - what to eat

Scorpion is a bottom poisonous predator. The appearance of the fish is not particularly attractive. A third of the body is occupied by a flattened head with a depressed forehead, on which crimson protruding eyes are located, a large mouth with huge lips and strong jaws. The head itself is protected by long, flap-like tentacles and poisonous spikes. Spikes are located on the dorsal fin and gill covers, they serve as a means of protection for the scorpionfish. The body itself is dense, tapering towards the tail. Weight ranges from 200 to 1.500 grams. The body is dark in color, but at the same time, there are stripes and spots of a darker tone, due to which the fish goes unnoticed and disguises itself in the bottom stones. The fish has a unique property: it molts several times a month, shedding old skin like a snake, “stocking”.

Habitat

Scorpionfish belong to the genus of marine ray-finned fish. The habitat of these individuals in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as in the seas of their basins. Often found in Thailand, the Philippines and the islands of the Malay Archipelago. Sea ruff is a representative of the northern regions. The Black Sea scorpionfish lives in the Kerch Strait and the Black Sea, less often it can be found in the Sea of ​​Azov. As a rule, all species of scorpions live only in salt water, close to the coastline, at a depth of 40 meters.

Diet

What the sea ruff does not eat: worms, caviar, fry, shrimps, mollusks and a wide variety of fish, ranging from horse and marine needle, and ending with red mullet and gobies. The diet of these individuals also includes algae. Often the fish feeds on young shoots of cystoseira. As a rule, ruffs are ambush predators. They are looking for shelter and when they see the prey, they rush at it with lightning speed, if they didn’t manage to catch it the first time, the fish no longer takes any action, but waits for another victim. Thanks to strong jaws, the fish grabs and gradually swallows the prey.

Way of fishing

You can get such a precious trophy as a sea ruff using a spinning rod or an ordinary donkey. Catching fish on a spinning rod is an entertaining process that pleases in any season, with the exception of, perhaps, the winter period, when individuals swim away from the coast for a long distance. Since the sea ruff - nocturnal predator, then it is better to “hunt” him at night. For scorpion it is not necessary to have a powerful sea ​​tackle. It is enough to have a good, middle-class spinning rod, an inertial-free reel and a fishing line with a diameter of 0.25 mm.

Almost all baits can be used for catching scorpion fish, but the most common are: "silicone", compact dips and cranks.

, or the Black Sea scorpion-ruff, or the scorpid, or the Black Sea scorpion (lat. Scorpaena porcus) is a fish that gave its name to the extensive Scorpion family.

Signs. Large head, devoid of scales, with a characteristic depressed forehead and a number of sharp spines. There are numerous skin appendages on the head.

the front of dorsal fin with hard rays, at the base of which there are poisonous glands. The pectoral fins are large, rounded, with a thickened lower ray.

related forms. The closest are Scorpaena scrofa and Scorpaena notata, then northern waters sea ​​bass, Sebastes, and Pacific sea ruffs, Sebastodes.

Spreading. Swimming pool mediterranean sea: Adriatic, Tyrrhenian, Aegean, Marmara and Black Sea; Atlantic Ocean; in Russia - the Black Sea.

BIOLOGY OF THE BLACK SEA ROUCH

Feature . The Black Sea sea ruff is a marine, bottom fish that lives in the coastal zone on hard ground. Inactive, prefers relatively calm water, inhabiting mainly bays; does not go deeper than 40 m. Avoids desalinated areas. It has the ability to disguise itself, taking on a color similar to the environment.

Spawning. In the Black Sea, it occurs from May to August at a water temperature of 12-19 °. Mass spawning is noted mainly in sheltered bays.

Black Sea sea ruff (Scorpaena porcus)

Development . Pelagic caviar, tied into elongated balloons with transparent slime. The diameter of the eggs is 1.1-1.3 mm. Larvae, when off, are 2.6 mm long. They stay in the surface layers of water. In September, already fully formed fry reach a length of 10-20 mm.

Growth. The Black Sea sea ruff at the age of seven to eight years reaches a length of 30 cm (in the Black Sea). In commercial catches, individuals aged two to three years, 8-12 cm long and weighing 20-60 g predominate.

The greatest growth in length is observed in March - June, and an increase in weight - in June - September. The Black Sea sea ruff reaches sexual maturity at the age of three years.

Food. The Black Sea sea ruff is a predator that feeds on small fish(mainly gobies, atherinka, greenfinches) and crustaceans (shrimp, crabs, mysids). Commercial fish species in the diet of the ruff make up about 4.5% of all food consumed. Juveniles feed mainly on mysids.

The most intense feeding is observed from July to October, the least - from January to April. In winter, intervals in meals reach 30 days, but a complete cessation of nutrition is not observed.

Competitors. Predatory species bychkov, sea ​​cow(Uranoscopus scaber), snake (Trachinus draco). However, there is not much competition due to some differences in habitats.

Enemies are few. Small ruffs are consumed in small quantities sea ​​cats, as well as large ruffs.

Migrations. The Black Sea sea ruff is a sedentary fish; it does not make any significant migrations. Only seasonal movements are observed from the coast to great depths(up to 40 m), which is associated with excessive cooling (below 12°) or, conversely, overheating of water (over 23°) in the coastal zone.

FISHING FOR THE BLACK SEA Ruff

It only matters in local markets. There is no special fishery in the waters of Russia, and catches are not taken into account separately. According to experimental seine fishing, off the coast of Sevastopol (depth 5-15 m) ruff is 10% of total number fish caught and 55% by weight. An average of 125 fish are caught in one netting of a seine. At a depth of 20-40 m, there are 50 fish per haul of the trawl.

In the region of Istanbul (Turkey), the Black Sea sea ruffe is caught in the amount of 60-120 centners per year.

Technique and the course of the fishery. Caught during all year round in the coastal zone with nets, fixed nets, nets and fishing rods.

The largest catch off the coast of Crimea is in May-June and September-October, off the coast of Turkey - in July-August.

When choosing the caught fish, care must be taken to avoid painful pricks from the prickly rays of the Black Sea sea ruff.

Usage . It is sold fresh in local markets. The meat is delicious.

Scorpionfish are one of the most dangerous marine animals. Even the name of these fish comes from the accepted in foreign languages the name "scorpion fish", which indicates a strong poisonousness. Despite the fact that scorpions cannot be called beautiful, few people can compete with them in the colorfulness and quirkiness of forms. Systematically, several genera of fish from the scorpion family of the Scorpioformes order are systematically classified as scorpions. Lionfish and spiny cheeks are very close to them, more distant relatives scorpion are warts, sea ​​bass, gurnards and trigles.

Red scorpionfish (Scorpaena scrofa).

Scorpion fish are small and medium-sized fish, the length of most species does not exceed 30 cm. They are characterized by a large head and a short, sharply tapering torso towards the tail. The tail itself is small and inconspicuous, but the fins are large, with highly developed rays. The dorsal fin is divided by a notch into two parts: in the anterior part 7-17 rays turned into sharp spines, in the rear part there is only one such spine. In addition, one thorn is available in pelvic fins and 2-3 in the anal. Each spine has two grooves along which the mucus secreted by poisonous glands at the base of the spine flows. This principle of structure is a bit like the arrangement of poisonous teeth in snakes. In addition to spines, scorpions have a bony bridge under the eye that protects the head, which is why these fish are sometimes called armor-cheeked. Scorpionfish also have short spines on their cheeks, but they are not venomous. The eyes of these fish are bulging like those of toads and frogs.

The mouth of the scorpionfish is large and, if necessary, can open very wide.

With snakes, scorpions have another property unique to fish. The fact is that scorpionfish ... molt! Periodically, they change their skin (for example, the Black Sea scorpionfish does this every month), and, like snakes, scorpionfish shed their skin entirely in the form of a stocking. But the main distinguishing feature scorpionfish are numerous outgrowths that cover the body of the fish. They can be developed to varying degrees - from short tufts that mimic mossiness to branched formations that resemble algae or corals. Complements this entourage motley coloring.

The color of the scorpionfish in richness and variegation resembles an oriental carpet.

Although the color scheme of most species is reduced to red-brown tones, but a lot of small multi-colored spots, lines, streaks and halftones make the drawing incredibly rich, and the scorpionfish itself - invisible against the colorful background of the coral reef.

The complex pattern of the lacy scorpionfish (Rhinopias aphanes) continuously passes from the body to the fins, creating a perfect resemblance to a coral branch.

The color of the lace scorpionfish is very variable: among the representatives of this species one can meet red, yellow, black, one-color and multi-colored individuals. Males and females of all scorpions look the same.

This gloomy fish is also a lacy scorpion fish.

Another outfit from the rich "wardrobe" of lace scorpions.

The habitat of the scorpion covers all tropical and subtropical zones the globe. A lot of species of scorpions can be found on the islands of the Malay Archipelago, the Philippines, and Thailand. One of the northernmost species is the Black Sea scorpionfish, or sea ruff, which lives in the Black Sea. In general, all scorpions live exclusively in salt water, their favorite habitats are coastal zones and shallow waters of coral atolls, but certain types can be found at depths up to 2000 m. Most Scorpionfish spend time in complete immobility, lying on the bottom in anticipation of prey. They swim rarely and for short distances, but if necessary, they can make swift jerks. Scorpionfish lead a solitary lifestyle, according to some reports, some species are active only at night.

Echmeyer's scorpionfish (Rhinopias eschmeyeri).

Scorpionfish are ambush predators. Not only are these fish difficult to distinguish against the background of the surrounding landscape, but they also burrow into the ground in such a way that only the eyes are visible from the outside (which is why they are so prominent). The scorpionfish patiently waits in ambush for hours until the victim appears in sight, then the scorpionfish quickly opens its mouth and the victim is literally carried into it by the current. Since these fish attack small animals, they swallow their prey whole. Scorpionfish hunt for small fish, crustaceans (shrimp) and cephalopods(primarily squid). deep sea species scorpionfish and those that hunt at night find prey thanks to a highly developed lateral line, which has moved to the head in scorpionfish. Thanks to this line, predators feel the vibrations of the water produced by the prey, and determine its location even in pitch darkness.

California scorpionfish (Scorpaena guttata) eating squid (Doryteuthis opalescens).

Scorpionfish lay eggs in separate portions, packed in slimy balloons. These balloons float to the surface of the water and there break up into separate eggs. Larvae hatch from floating eggs, which at first stay near the surface of the water, but having matured a little, sink into the bottom layers.

Caviar of the California scorpionfish.

In nature, scorpions have few enemies, given their excellent camouflage, low mobility and strong poisonousness. But for humans, scorpions are of twofold interest. On the one hand, these fish pose a real danger to divers, swimmers and even people just relaxing on the shore. The thing is that the skillful camouflage of scorpions does not allow you to detect fish in time, so it is very easy to prick on its thorns. Complicating the situation is that scorpions often end up washed ashore, and their spines can pierce through even light shoes. When injected, poison immediately enters the wound, which causes very severe pain. The pain increases with time and can even lead to loss of consciousness from pain shock. In addition, the components of the poison cause a decrease in pressure, swelling of the lungs and the affected limb, and numbness. Symptoms do not improve within a few days, but deaths from scorpion poisoning are rare.

Flathead Scorpenopsis (Scorpaenopsis oxycephala).

On the other hand, the Black Sea and California scorpionfish have considerable gastronomic value. Their meat is very tasty, gives excellent fat, so fish soup is often boiled from scorpions. fish soups. They catch scorpions along the way with other fish, and butcher them with gloves separately from other species. The meat freed from thorns does not pose any danger. Scorpionfish are also attractive to aquarists, although keeping them at home is not easy. When keeping scorpions, it is important to provide them with shelters in aquariums, good aeration and water filtration. Scorpion fed small fish and crustaceans (brine shrimp), with fish of equal size, scorpionfish behave peacefully and get along well with their neighbors.

There are fish in Anapa, with which it is better not to meet one on one in the sea, but it is advisable to try it fried in the resort's cafe. To such formidable representatives of the underwater flora Black Sea refers to the sea ruff or scorpionfish.

The scorpionfish lives in many southern and tropical countries where tourists like to relax. Our sea ruff is the most northern view scorpion lives in the Black Sea, loves coastal rocky places. The fish can be found on the High Coast, the beaches of Utrish and Sukko. The sea ruff has a reddish-brown coloration, for good camouflage in dense seaweed and rocks, and is about 15-20 centimeters in size. Lateral and dorsal poisonous fins sea ruff spreads when threatened. This species must be handled with care as you may suffer from an injection.

How to protect yourself from a scorpion sting

It is not as easy for a simple bather to step on a ruff as it might seem. Usually, when a person approaches, the scorpion swims away quickly. You need to be careful when the sea is rough and stormy, because. Ruff at this time is not so easy to notice the bathers. The main injuries occur when a person tries to get to know each other closely. sea ​​ruff. Fishermen, divers and divers who try to touch or unhook a scorpionfish stumble upon poisonous spikes.

What to do with an injection of the Black Sea ruff

If you are a victim of a scorpion stab, don't panic, no one has died from it yet. When injected, poison enters the body. The victim needs rest. The site of the wound, usually the heel or sole of the foot, should be dipped in hot water(temperature 45-50 degrees). You can take antiallergic drugs. Usually unpleasant symptoms disappear in one or two days.

How to cook ruff

Sea ruff is a delicacy, you can try it in fish. Very tasty fried fillet of sea ruff and ear.

Sea ruff (scorpionfish), harmoniously combined with the ornament of the seabed. Even with close range, it is difficult to distinguish it from a lying stone, dotted with water currents. Throwing itself out of an ambush, it never leaves the victim a chance, even if a crab turns up, swallows it whole, with all its "chain mail". During fishing, he grabs the bait, in his usual manner: without ceremony, as already his own.

Given the peculiarities of this nature of the bite, the fishermen came up with tricks to catch the obstinate fish, which you will learn in this article.

1. General description of scorpion fish (sea ruff)

The scorpionfish, also called the sea ruff, has an elongated body, slightly compressed from the sides. Large head, slightly flattened, with large bulging eyes and a wide, thick-lipped mouth. Powerful jaws armed with small teeth. There are outgrowths of bristles in the pharynx, arranged in a semicircle, which act as graters

The body is covered with warts, spines, patches of scales and tentacles of various lengths, giving the fish a comical appearance. The dorsal fin consists of soft rays coming from the tail and spiny feathers extending across the back. Abdominal and pectoral fins, wide, oval, as well as anal, have spines along the edges. The gills, fins and tuberous spines are equipped with needles, on the edge of which there are glands with poison. The coloration of the back is dark brown, the body is light brown.

2. Distribution and habitats

Sea ruff lives in the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean, off the African and European coasts, as well as in the Black Seas.

3. Age and size

Life expectancy is 6 years, body length is 40 cm.

4. Lifestyle

A bottom predator that lives in the coastal strips at a depth of 10 - 90 meters.

4.1. Reproduction - time and features of spawning

June - September. Reaches sexual maturity at the age of 2 years, having a body length of 17.5 cm. Sizes may vary, depending on habitat and ecology.

It spawns in portions, wrapped in transparent mucous membranes, which, rising to the surface, ripen. The protective veil bursts, and the larvae, being released, drift in the water column. Very soon, already in the form of juveniles, they sink to the bottom, continuing their way of life, in their native element.

4.2. Diet - what to eat

Small fish, such as gobies, greenfinches and slats, as well as crustaceans and mollusks (,).

5. How, where, when and what to fish for scorpion fish (sea ruff)

You can fish from the shore and no less successfully from floating means, around the clock, using both natural and artificial baits.

For lovers of fishing sea ​​waters we invite you to familiarize yourself with detailed information about the Mediterranean, weather conditions, topography, water temperature, water flow and inhabitants -

5.1. Biting calendar - what time of year is best to bite

Scorpion fishing is conducted all year round.

5.2. What weather is best for scorpion pecking (sea ruff)

In the first hours after the storm.

5.3. What are the best places to fish

In the morning and in the evening, near the shore, at a depth of at least 3 meters, on the slopes of the shell, coral or rocky bottom, as well as in the coastal zone, among stones, reefs and algae.

5.4. What gear is best to fish

When fishing from a boat, spinning is used hard, with a sensitive tip. Inertial coil, or.

Tackle, which is often successfully caught, is collected in this way:

• main line 0.40 mm, with a margin of 50 m on the reel;
• at the end of the bet, sinker 50-100 g;
• 0.30 mm section, attached to the main line with;
• hook size, depends on the size of the bait No. 5-9, in the amount of 2 pieces.

AT clear water, in shallow water, so that the boat is not visible, the equipment is thrown to the side, and to make it easier to pull the ruff out of the stones, the hooks are equipped with floats, giving them a suspended state.

Since fishing for scorpion fish is mainly carried out in stones and algae, it is best to use a piece of reinforcement 20–30 cm long as a load, bending it into latin letter- V, instead of a bend, they attach a fishing line and hooks in the stones and thickets of the bottom, there will be no more.

From the shore they catch on float tackle, with a deaf or sliding installation, depending on the depth and casting distance. The float should be made of polystyrene, white and large, and for fishing at night, it is coated with Firefly varnish.

At night, efficiently and in in large numbers, catch a scorpion fish on the bottom. An ordinary sinker, round or flat, will not work, the fish will drag it into the stones, after which it will be problematic to fish it out.

Scorpionfish, during a bite, is detected by itself and at what, always. Pecks, immediately swallowing. Given these features, a thick wire is used as a sinker, which is bent into a ring. The ends of the rod are connected by soldering. The main fishing line with a carabiner, fastens the ring - a sinker, to which they are tied with hooks.

Equipment is thrown at a distance of 40 - 80 m from the shore. Dozens of pieces are thrown to Donok, and in the morning the catch is counted. On one tackle, it can be hooked, up to five individuals.

A bunch with a trophy, easily released from the main line by opening the carabiner. After that, the scorpion fish is transferred to a plastic bucket, or to some other dense container. On the way back from fishing, the fish will calm down, and already at home, in a calm environment, pull the hooks out of the mouth. Shooting an aggressive ruff at night, even with a flashlight, is not always convenient and safe.

Tackle of this design has the following advantages:

1. Minimum effort.
2. High result.
3. Convenient and safe to use.

In this 3 minute video, experienced fishermen will share with you their experiments with tackle and reels. Fishing is carried out with ultralight on, from the pier, in the city of Sochi

Ruff, rattles with his ammunition, only with his appearance, pleases enthusiastic fishermen. Caught in the Black Sea large size, on brightly colored silicone

5.5. Bait for catching scorpionfish (sea ruff)

Seafood mix: crustaceans, fish and shellfish (, mussels,). Finely crushed and poured into a nylon stocking. Then, they are thrown into the place of the upcoming catch.

5.6. What baits and baits to catch

As bait, they most often serve: raw or boiled rapana meat, mussels, whole crab, small in size, as well as slicing fish (for example,), nereis, and lard.

Pilker, silver or green, with black spots. The result of the catch will increase if, in addition to the hook, you pick up slices of fresh fish.

6. Interesting, unusual, funny facts about this fish

From the stories, spearfishers and fishermen who have experienced the bite of a ruff, the symptoms have been described in different ways. For example, in the Black Sea, the fish are calm and the bite is less painful. In, after a bite, swelling follows and the temperature rises, the pain effect can last up to 2 days. In the Red Sea, after an injection of a sea ruff, there have been fatal cases, and the temper, in the scorpion species, is more aggressive.

The toxicity and behavior of fish are influenced by two main factors - the number of enemies and the availability of food. In the Black Sea, most likely, living creatures are abundant, and in the Red Sea, you have to fight for every shrimp.

In the case of a scorpion stab, no matter which sea it happened on, the first step is to remove the thorn from the wound. Then, squeeze out the blood so that the poison does not spread throughout the body. Disinfect the bite site with hydrogen peroxide, if this is not possible, then rinse the wound with sea or hot water. Even if the place of the burn does not bother, you still need go to the hospital to prevent infection or an allergic reaction.

On the head, the sea ruff has receptors, thanks to which, even in the dark, by the slightest fluctuations, it recognizes its prey.

Ruff swallowed a burbot, the size of himself, and in order to place it in the stomach, rubs it with pharyngeal brushes. At the time of the meal, an underwater diver sailed up to wish you bon appetit. Watch 1 min. video

7. Gastronomy

The meat is white and juicy, slightly sweet in taste. Contains substances: chromium, fluorine, zinc and nickel, as well as molybdenum and nicotinic acid.

8. Useful video

The Black Sea, the city of Anapa, fishing for a sea ruff, from a rocky shore. The video contains comments from the champions of Russia in fishing. Stories about habits dangerous fish, recommendations on fishing technique and rods used, see 10 min. roller

9. Most Useful Fish Links

- an encyclopedic article about scorpion fish;

http://forum.tetis.ru/viewtopic.php?t=54371 - advice from members of the forum on what to do if bitten by a scorpionfish;

– an interesting article about the methods of catching scorpion fish;

http://koktebel-himik.com.ua/pages/animals/11.htm - about sea ruff in folk predictions.