What's In a Name?
Mooneye: taken from the pale color of the eye

Hiodon (hi-oh-don´) means "toothed hyoid" in Greek, referring to the "tongue" bone
tergisus (ter-gee´-suss) means "polished" in Greek; taken from the shinny look of the fish

How Big Do They Get?
How Long Do They Live?
In Minnesota, mooneyes typically reach 250-300 mm (10 -12 in) in length and weigh about 280-350 g (about 8-10 oz). The record in Minnesota for this fish is 0.88 kg (1 lbs 15 oz). It was caught in the Minnesota River in Redwood County. Mooneyes frequently live to 6 years old, but occasionally may reach 8-10 years old. On average, females live longer than males do.

What Eats Them?
Mooneyes are probably eaten by the same fish predators as goldeyes. These include northern pike, sauger, and walleye. Although they are less sought after than goldeye, they are still taken by a few commercial operations in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

How Do They Reproduce?
Unfortunately, very little is known about the spawning habits of mooneye. Mooneyes probably begin spawning at about the same ages as the goldeye and their spawning season is similar (late April to June). Unlike goldeyes, mooneyes tend to migrate into clearer streams, where they spawn in moving water. They probably broadcast their eggs on gravel and pebble substrates. A single female can release 10,000-20,000 eggs, depending on her size.

Conservation and Management
Mooneyes have been a minor commercial species, sometimes being used when the goldeye catch was small. They are occasionally caught by anglers, but more by accident then by intention.