Natural History Notes: Pacific Tomcod
You codda be kidding me! Pacific tomcod found for the first time in Crab Team traps
Crab Team’s monitoring traps captured Pacific tomcod (Microgadus proximus; MIPR) for the first time in September 2025 at two sites in Grays Harbor. Some estimates show tomcod are nearly as abundant as staghorn sculpin in Washington’s coastal estuaries, yet they have not been reported in green crab traps statewide until just last year. Tomcod, at 8-12 inches long, are much smaller than their more famous kin, Atlantic cod. One of the most reliable identification features for distinguishing tomcod from others in the group is the short, distinct chin barbel (a whisker-like sensory organ under the chin), which helps them sense prey, including polychaete worms, small crabs, and fish larvae. Although tomcod spawn in marine waters, estuaries are crucial nursery habitat, providing rich feeding opportunities where tides concentrate plankton and warmer temperatures promote primary production. Grays Harbor seems to have had a bumper crop recently! To learn more about them, read P. Sean McDonald’s blog post.