Blackfish

Excellent point to make Adsy.

I recon it could be the culprit. I've been busted off, then a few minutes later you catch one of these with you line out of its mouth. Hungry and not shy. Ones I've caught have been in Kimberleys certainly not in NSW which makes it extra special. Oh and I see your the Silver Biddy record holder, certainly nice having this badge beside that.

Excellent capture Bluefin and good luck with the Jacks. They are pretty fish when they're juveniles, pretty bland when adults. I suppose that goes with us to.

Only on my phone at the momement but looks like a juvenile Queensland grouper .( Epinephelus lanceolatus) I'll have a better look later

Put them into your search engine as well http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/375888/Frigate-Mackerel.pdf http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/375911/Mackerel-Tuna.pdf You will see the dots on Mac Tuna. Sorry for the quick reply .... off to work.

Excellent catch. Also like the photo that the top of the tail fin is same as the bottom ............ genuine length. Good on you.

Great description mate. Plus 1 Yowie.

Sorry Perch.

Black Bandit, got it. Purple Cod Epinephelus cyanopodus. There's a few taken each year , but I know only a couple around your size over the years. Yours is certainly a cracking fish. Excellent work.

Great Pics John.

MikeR, I recon the water doesn't get really cold to late Winter so middle of winter still could be bearable for those Tropicals. I remember a couple of years back had some 14 deg water in late January around Merries Reef/ Stink pipes.

I recon Pelagics head back. Smaller tropical fish do what Houdini said. And some stay like Spangled Emperor, maybe a Jack as well plus I know of Purple Cod, Blue Bar Parrots caught here and down at the Banks. You would not think of them as migratory fish. Thats my "guess" I'm not a marine scientist.

I recon its a Yellowtail Barracuda Sphyraena obusata. Different common names, I call them Sea Pike. They have come up on here before, have a search in the Aquarium section. It certainly sounds better if some one asked you how you went and you tell them "I got a Yellowtail Barracuda" than a Sea Pike.

Bad luck Neil, I suppose any sport costs a bit. But I bet it puts a damper on the outing.

Good to see a few Flattys about, they were thin on the ground down south of Sydney a couple of weeks ago. Also your Bream I recon are Tarwine.

I'm not aware of a "Spikey Flathead" as a species of Flathead (NOTE- not saying there isn't) but, I like others on the thread call small Flathead, Spikeys. And this is more prevalent with the Ocean species,(Sand, Tiger, Marbled) rather than say, Duskys in a Estuary situation. Many years ago a fellow I knew who really was into Fish ID and had credentials to go with it, always insisted on a Latin name to identify a fish because of common names cause confusion. Happy for someone to put up a Latin name for a "Spikey" Flathead as that would be interesting. Happy Sunday and watch those waves on the coast. Stay safe.

As Fireflies said . At least you got a look at it before it released itself. Bad luck anyway.

Thanks for the update Julian. Great reading.

I know the common fish that have Ciguatera in those areas but never knew Longtom could also carry it. Thanks Dr Funk. Mind you I've never needed to knock one on its head either and eat it.

Giant Trevally. Caranx ignobills. Great work on the light tackle.

There's a few different Longtoms. I'll call this one a Stout Longtom. Tyosurus gavialoides. There's also another common one, Barred Longtom Ablennes hains and seem Oceanic. I've only seen them out to sea especially on the north coast. To me they hang around in the same water as Wahoo/Mackeral etc, though I've seen them at 2&3 Mile out from the Entrance. These I Alligator Gar but thats also a common name for Stout Longtom....... Bloody common names. Thought I'd clear it up. Thanks all. .

I would also call it a Lesser Queenfish Scomberoides lysan. My reasoning would be the head shape and the Dorsal fin colour. Hand is in the way a tad and the fish is tilted at a bit of a angle but all good.

Yes certainly a Sweep, thats the common name. Australian Museum call it a Silver Sweep (Scorpis lineolata) which is a fair call as there is a few types of sweep. Sea sweep, which can be also called Sweep have been caught in Sydney, but not to common.

MMMM .... Avoca lake must hold some. http://www.fishraider.com.au/Invision/index.php?showtopic=63884&hl=grunter#entry448064

Thans for that Dr Funk.