It is not actually a Pompano, locally it is called the Pacific Butterfish.
Found under Acer macrophyllum leaf litter among an underbrush of Mahonia nervosa, Rubus ursinus, and Rubus subsection Hiemales. Relocated out of my work area for safety.
These pictures of an Anatolichthys species were taken on the west end of the Lake Salda. To my knowledge the only two species recorded from that area are saldae and fontinalis, but these specimens show obvious differences. They have 7 black vertical bars that are thinner then the ones on fontinalis but thicker then the ones on saldae. The anal fin is mainly an orange-yellow color with some black on the tip, this black tip is slightly broader on the dorsal fin but does not cover the whole fin. Also the overall body and mouth shape does not resemble the ones of fontinalis or saldae.
This fish was caught on a single, barbless hook and safely released.
Actively laying an egg.