How to Tell a Sculpin From a Goby:

Round gobies and mottled sculpins look a lot alike, especially when they are not spawning. Though they look alike, after you have seen a few of each it is easy to tell them apart:

• Gobies eyes protrude obviously from their head
• Gobies flee at the first sign of danger, sculpins use camouflage instead
• Sculpins hide under rocks during day, gobies are beside them or on top of them
• Gobies have very rounded fins
• Gobies tend to be more of a solid tan or black color, sculpins are mottled
• Female and young gobies have a distinct black spot on their back
• If you find a dead sculpin or goby, or happen to capture one, you can see the picture below to identify them: