Marine Life

Blackeyed Goby
(Coryphopterus nicholsi)
Courtesy of Tom Haight

This small bottom-dwelling fish rarely grows over 5 inches and can be identified by its cream to white color and large black eyes. They can be found from Canada to midway down the Baja peninsula. They are brave little fish and often allow divers to approach within several inches before darting away for cover. Blackeyed Goby can be found from the tide pools to water over 400 feet deep. Around Doheny we find them around the numerous reef areas usually near sand. They feed on tiny crustaceans, amphipods and mollusks. Some of their chief predators are the Brandt's and Double-Crested Cormorants. Like the local California Sheephead, all Blackeyed Goby start out as females and turn to males somewhere between 2-1/2 to 3 inches.