PokéFish Dex
California Current System field guide · R/V Sproul collection cards
PokéFish Dex
An interactive, Pokémon-inspired field guide to fishes of the California Current System. Each card turns real ichthyology into an approachable species profile with fictional moves, abilities, and card mechanics rooted in biological traits.
Project focus
All PokéFish are inspired by fishes found in the California Current System and able to be collected on R/V Sproul research cruises. The site combines card collecting, science communication, and a searchable digital dex.
Pokédex Viewer
Use the sidebar to search or click an entry. The selected card loads here without jumping down the page.
Booster Pack Opener
Open a random 5-card pack as a stack. Click the top card to reveal it, then click again to send it to the Pokédex and move to the next card.
EX cards: Blind Goby EX, Anglerfish EX. Rare cards: Dragonfish, Gulper Eel, Skate, Rockfish, Myxiniformes. Common cards: the rest.
California Current System
The California Current System is a productive eastern boundary current ecosystem along the Pacific coast. In this project, it serves as the real-world region behind the PokéFish Dex.
Why it matters
The region supports plankton, larval fishes, mesopelagic fishes, predators, and seafloor communities. Organizing these species as a Pokédex helps connect traits like bioluminescence, schooling, vertical migration, venomous spines, camouflage, and metamorphosis to real ecological roles.
R/V Sproul
The R/V Sproul connection grounds the collection in real marine science fieldwork rather than just fictional card design.
Collection context
Each PokéFish is inspired by a fish group that can occur within the California Current System and be encountered through research cruise sampling. The site can be expanded with more field notes, collection gear, depth ranges, and cruise images as your project develops.
Pokémon & Science
Pokémon works well as a science communication bridge because many official Pokémon already borrow from real animal morphology, ecology, and behavior.
From fish to PokéFish
This project uses the same basic idea: a real biological trait becomes a fictional card mechanic. A dragonfish chin barbel becomes Shadow Lure; a tubeshoulder gland becomes Luminous Discharge; a hagfish slime defense becomes Endless Slime; a flatfish metamorphosis becomes a larva-to-adult evolution line.