iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 14h

Recently, I joined the @marylanddnr.bsky.social for their annual endangered Atlantic sturgeon spawning population survey, which used gill nets with 12.5-14” mesh! This mesh is so large (to let anything smaller than a sturgeon swim through) that it came from an arctic narwhal monitoring project!!!

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

While people think planting native plants is just good to bring more butterflies, it also brings other animals to the yard. When we first watched a box turtle eating wild berries in our yard, we wanted more of that, so we planted a bunch of native berry bushes, and it seemed to have worked 🐢

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

As someone who was in a frat at Cornell a decade ago, here is my perspective on this situation: it’s bad, absolutely tragic for the woman involved, but it was preventable and more REAL steps should be taken to prevent these kinds of things. Here’s some context on the frat scene, from my perspective.

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

My favorite emails from students are those with the subject, “What fish is this?” Here, we have a skilletfish, our local clingfish species that uses is suction cup-like pelvic fins to stick under crevices and in shells.

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I’ll be a panelist tomorrow at the E-Volution Expo in Ocean City - come learn about local sustainability issue and our advice on how to live more sustainably! #SciComm

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

My 5th annual free Nanticoke River Invasive Fishing Derby, presented by @salisburyuniv.bsky.social, sponsored by Coastal Conservation Association MD, was another success at getting anglers out to target invasive species! We caught 250 invasive fish, totalling 500 lbs & got trained some new anglers!🐟

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

I’m hosting my 5th Annual Nanticoke River Invasive Fishing Derby this Saturday, July 18th! This event is FREE to the public thanks to our sponsors CCA MD & Salisbury U, aimed at encouraging people to catch & eat invasive fishes like blue catfish. Scan the QR code for more info or search Facebook! 🐟🎣

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

She was ready to go home turtles 🐢

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

My neighbor didn’t know what was going on with this snapping turtle so I did a welfare check on this one. A few hours later, it was done and I thought it was back in the water. Nope, somehow it got into my garage and got tangled up in a fishing net. I quickly freed her and she is back in the lake

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

It’s that time of year again.. if you see turtles crossing roads/out in the open/digging, they are doing their normal behavior. They are searching for a spot to lay some eggs. Leave it be, unless it’s in a road, then carefully pick it up & move it to the other side in the direction it was going 🐢

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

I made a new online store on RedBubble because I wanted to get some new tank tops for summer and thought it would be cool to have some with my artwork on them! Check out my shop for a variety of products, from clothing to stickers to bucket hats to aprons and more! I’ll slowly be adding new pieces!🐡

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Carp be out here spawning… thought a bunch of fish were blowing up on topwater and got excited with my frog lure… until I realized it’s carp spawning season and the carp are chasing each other around and spawning on the shoreline 🐟 🎣

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Polarized sunglasses are a must have for fishing or any form of aquatic/marine research because they help cut the glare, allowing you to more easily see through the water. Behold their power!

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

White Perch (Morone americana), cleared and stained/diaphonized. The first two images I took with my microscope this week, and the third I took almost a decade ago with my iPhone. I’m glad I finally have the equipment and skills to give this guy a glow up since it was also a favorite of mine! 🐡🐟🐠

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Ding ding ding! 🔔 It’s a cleared and stained juvenile (~1 cm) yellow boxfish’s (Ostracion cubicus) weird mouth, takenin a mix of dark & brightfield. I was experimenting with some microscopy techniques & tried to make it look sort of alive. Here are some other images I took of it, zooming out 🐠🐟🐡🦑

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Let's see if anyone can guess what this is! I was having fun playing around with my microscope today and thought this was an interesting view. I'll share the zoomed out image later. 🧪🐡🐙

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Well, I don’t think I’m going to need to worry about anymore mice in my garage, but you’re going to need to stay there until I get back from work… while not a rattlesnake, this black racer was angrily shaking it’s tail at me as a warning before it started striking at me

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Well, a cold front can in while we were in Georgia that made the fishing not ideal… but at least I squeaked out a few different fish, making Georgia the 35th US state or territory I’ve got a fish in! 🐟🎣🐠

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

The American Dipper is NA’s only aquatic songbird, and happens to be in my top 2 birds🐦! Here’s one I happened to see at Multnomah Falls just outside a Portland for #SICB2026 doing its namesake “dipping” behavior! They will all walk around underwater looking for 🐛 and lil 🐟 to eat

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

So long Portland, it was a great #SICB2026, full of great science, great food (and fun commiseration when the food wasn’t so great), new and old friends, waterfalls, great science, an most importantly, great scientific community! See y’all in Pittsburgh for #SICB2027!

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

I thought I had one with an oarfish from them, but it’s just giant squid, morays, Loch Ness monster, narwhal with a lightsaber, anglerfish, and a few others, including a different elongate fish (mostly cutoff in this image) that could loosely be interpreted as an oarfish. But I have matching shorts!

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

I’m excited to be the first ever Artist-in-Residence at #SICB2026! Stop by the @sicbjournals.bsky.social booth during the poster session to chat with me about scientific art and take home some swag with my artwork on it! 🐡

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

I'll be presenting on a very different topic than usual for #SICB2026... "Strengths, challenges, & experiences of neurodivergent faculty in academia" at 8:45am on Jan. 7th in Room A105 as part of Symposium 12: Disabled & Neurodivergent perception, community, & identity in the biosciences (1/2)

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Oh I just let them go as part of a winter catch and release tournament. Caught a 24” yesterday and one this tournament a couple of years ago with a 27”, but probably got one about 30” a year before that

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

And this was a couple weeks after a big pickerel chomped on my hand while I tried removing the hook. I was using pliers, but that 23” fish lunged out of the net at my hand and took a few bites and slashes at me. Blood went everywhere, it was like a murder scene on my kayak 😂

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

The dumbest thing I did all year was catch a big fish in my kayak a few days ago, pull the hook out of the mouth while there was still a lot of tension in the line, then let go of the hook, which rocketed into my finger, burying deeply. I think touching the bone. What about y’all?

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Fellow neurodivergent people, does anyone else struggle immensely with stereograms? I have never been able to see the hidden images. After finally being explained how to see them (and not just that they exist) I thought would be able to finally see them… nope. Is this a neurospicy perception thing?

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

“44% of those who offered their seat in the experimental condition reported not seeing Batman. These findings suggest that unexpected events can promote prosociality, even without conscious awareness, with implications for encouraging kindness in public settings.” So, we need more Batmen. 2/2

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

The next day one of the baby cypresses I planted on the shoreline to help restore bald cypresses to another part of their historic range was gnawed down… at least this time it was nature instead of a boat propellor that took out my cypress. And a very cute beaver at that 🦫

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

A new neighbor moved into town and came over to say hi…

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Well, I tried my first fish sketch in a long time on a pumpkin for Halloween. I attempted a cleared and stained harvestfish, but the mouth came out more like an Opah’s. Does that count? 🐟 🐡

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

I went to take a couple of casts from the dock this morning before getting started with work, and got a nice 18” bass, but also found an invasive crayfish in my minnow trap that has not been documented for my county yet... Even when I’m off the clock, the invasive species find me… time to report

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

After working late to finish analyzing data and revising my manuscript that describes why some fish emerge and leave the water and others don’t, it was quite ironic to see this shirt from @hankgreen.bsky.social finally arrived at my doorstep, as if sassing me 🐟

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

After playing with some options amongst the students in my lab, I have finally developed a lab logo! Prepare for our merch line featuring it on shirts, hats, sneakers, guitar picks, NFTs, bibles, steaks, wine, golf courses, and more!

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

What is something that could be taken wildly out of context by someone who didn’t know you were a scientist? 🧪 I’ll start with this note I just found in my pocket.

A note that says “6 pm, 15 brains weird females, 15 normal”

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

This project had absolutely nothing related to any of the research I was doing at the time during my PhD (or even now), but sometimes a research question comes so naturally, like “why won’t the lips clear?” that you can’t resist finding out the answer (with the help of collaborators)…

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

My newest tattoo is based on the first field excursion of my lab at SU when I started it up in 2021. As part of my MS student Zach Crum’s thesis project on the diet of invasive blue catfish, we collected some big fish. Literally the first one cut (47 pounder) had a whole wood duck in its stomach 🐟🐡🦆

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Anyone going to #SICB2026 want to join me for a white sturgeon charter in the Willamette or Columbia rivers, both world-class sturgeon fishing waters right in Portland? If so, let me know ASAP as that may mean adjusting flight times and/or hotel durations as you are planning for the conference

A giant sturgeon that somebody is holding in the river

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Yes, I work with fish. What gave it away?

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Apparently, a snake snuck through the floorboards of our screened in porch and our gentlest cat picked the lil guy up and brought it inside! If our other cats found him, he probably wouldn’t have been as lucky… the snake is now safely outside in the bushes

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

First bluefish on the fly, and a chopper at that! About 8 lbs and 26”! 🎣

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

I’m Noah, I’m a professor in MD trying to save the Chesapeake Bay from invasive blue catfish. I also research amphibious fishes, biomechanics, behavior, and fisheries. When I’m not sciencing, you can find me SciComm-ing about fish, fishing, or making fish art (using science)

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

I just updated my online shop with my newest prints, check it out! Not into traditional wall art? My art is also available on stickers, notebooks, towels, phone cases, external battery packs, duvet covers, shower curtains, tote bags, ornaments, yoga mats, & more! fineartamerica.com/profiles/noa... 🐡

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Working with @marylanddnr.bsky.social, my lab is working on removing invasive blue catfish from the Chesapeake Bay to protect native species like blue crabs and striped bass. Here's a little preview into a new project an MS student in my lab, Liam Hanley, is working on.

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

I only hear rails at the marshes near me, never see them. Except for this one that lives by this viewing platform at Blackwater NWR. If you need a reliable spot, that’s your best bet for seeing Clapper Rails (aka just this individual reliably), that’s a good location

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

Anyway, that’s a long way of saying I just caught my first Atlantic Cod (Gaduas morhua) on hook-and-line from Nova Scotia - a fish with perhaps more cultural history than any other species. Also got some Atlantic Mackerel and had some pilot whales come up to us! (3/3)

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

Meanwhile, everyone in the vicinity looked at me holding a bag of fish with an expression like they’ve never seen where food comes from before. The restaurant then gave me seasoning, butter, and lemon to cook it with and pointed me to a grill out back, where I cooked my own fish. 2/3)

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

I’m currently at a golf resort & asked the restaurant “if we caught some fish & brought it to dinner, would the kitchen cook it for us?” They said “sure, can do”. Apparently, they didn’t think I was serious & I called their bluff, but they said the kitchen couldn’t prepare it cus health reg. (1/3)

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Well, clearly these snakehead have something else taking their attention away from biting my lure (spawning)

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Noah Bressman, PhD @noahwithfish.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

This event would not have been possible without a small grant from @marylanddnr.bsky.social and our sponsors Old Skool Tackle, Maryland Coastal Conservation Association, Eastern Shore Gyotaku, and PHAT KATZ Catfish Rigs. Hopefully, we will see everyone out again next year!

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