Fundulus diaphanus

How to identify a Banded Killifish

Banded Killifish are found in warm lakes, ponds, slow rivers, floodplains, and vegetated backwaters. Use these features as a starting point and compare with a full identification guide before relying on any identification.

Habitat and range

Warm lakes, ponds, slow rivers, floodplains, and vegetated backwaters

Where to catch Banded Killifish

• Great Lakes weedy bays
• Atlantic coastal marshes (NJ/MA)
• St. Lawrence

Banded Killifish by state

State season calendars that list Banded Killifish — each shows the months it is in season and the official licence source:

• Illinois — seasons, best months and licence info
• Indiana — seasons, best months and licence info
• Massachusetts — seasons, best months and licence info
• Michigan — seasons, best months and licence info
• Minnesota — seasons, best months and licence info
• New Jersey — seasons, best months and licence info
• New York — seasons, best months and licence info
• Ohio — seasons, best months and licence info
• Pennsylvania — seasons, best months and licence info
• Wisconsin — seasons, best months and licence info

Baits and lures

Species-dependent · worms · insects · small fish · crustaceans · prepared baits · or small lures

Related species

Often caught in the same waters or confused with Banded Killifish:

• Bluefin Killifish — identification & profile (Freshwater)
• Rainwater Killifish — identification & profile (Freshwater)
• Bantam Sunfish — identification & profile (Freshwater)
• Barbel — identification & profile (Freshwater)
• Bigmouth Buffalo — identification & profile (Freshwater)
• Black Acara — identification & profile (Freshwater)