Holls

Ha ha. I doubt I could turn these big ones around! Rip in the gutter, big waves. Don't want to leave hook and line in a lost fish.

Off the beach, the South Coast is firing at the moment with big salmon. The one pictured must be close to 5kg. Rising tide in a good gutter, caught 5 on pilchards in no time. Terrific fun, great fighting fish, leaping from the water. Took two home and released the others. Cheers and tight lines!

Thanks Blackfish. Yes, looks lie it might be Smallmouth Hardyhead! But more than happy for you to send it elsewhere. Cheers.

THANKS for all your ideas. From what was suggested it looks like they might be Smallmouth Hardyhead. https://www.nativefish.asn.au/home/page/Smallmouth-hardyhead

Anyone know what these little guys are? Very small, about 25mm. Vast clouds of them in Burrill Lake open to the sea. Predated upon by Tailor. Be grateful for advice.

Thanks for replies. Looked up luderick (looks good), but it led to Silver Drummer. Is that another possibility?

Great report! How far south were you Squibily?

Washed up on shore of Burrill Lake (saltwater, open to the sea). Definitely not a bream. If undamaged, about 40cm long. Concave tail shape suggests not a mullaway? Any ideas appreciated!

Yeah it sure looks weird.

We have duskies coming out of our ears. Supplying several locked down neighbours. We eat em every way we can! fry, crumbed, battered, poached - you name it 🙂

Yeah no shortage of fish in our lake at present. I can catch the 'white flesh' ones and the 'peach coloured' ones side by side, same day, same size. Weird.

Yes, no probs. Seems to taste the same as the white flesh ones. Although I did bake it in a fish pie!

Both same size, caught on same SP in the exact same spot. Both very dark colouring, vigorous fighting. Def not sick or unhealthy. Unlikely to have a different diet. Yes, think it might be something to do with spawning female - perhaps after spawning? Will be more careful next time to determine sexes. Thanks for your responses.

I'm generally on the saltwater, but about 10 years ago I was a crazy keen fly fisherman. One afternoon up at Penstock Lagoon in the mountains of Tasmania, I waded out into dead still water and saw the tiny telltale ring of a fish rising, taking gnats off the water film (almost imperceptible). I managed to present my fly pretty well and the next thing we were on. It took a good ten minutes to turn him around and bring him up to my side on an extremely light leader. This was memorable. Caught quite a few others (all catch and release) but this moment was special, taught me a lot about thumpin' big trout in Tasmania.

I asked this question about a year ago but not sure if we got to the bottom of it. There must be some research somewhere but can't find it. Two Dusky Flathead caught in Burrill Lake one day apart, both 46cm long. Good fish! Note the difference in flesh colour and texture. Anyone have info on this?