Braidbuster Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 I was busted up by these gray fish so many times I lured one on 30lb line.Even though it was 40cm it nearly broke my rod! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbietola Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 mate thats a surgeon fish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreamtime Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 (edited) Sawtail Surgeonfish The Sawtail Surgeonfish can be recognised by its grey to brownish colouration and the row of five to six black scutes on the rear of the body. It grows to 70 cm in length. Adults are found mostly on coastal rocky reefs. Juveniles are usually seen in estuaries and coastal bays. This species occurs in tropical and warm temperate waters of the Western Pacific. In Australia it is known from northern Queensland to southern New South Wales, plus Lord Howe Island. Edited October 20, 2008 by Mariner 31 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laredo Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 I was busted up by these gray fish so many times I lured one on 30lb line.Even though it was 40cm it nearly broke my rod! this fish was only 40cm? or a different one? the one in the photo looks bigger, but then again photos can deceive. What kind of lure did you get him on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew399 Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Your lucky mate! They are little rippers! Congrats on a killer catch!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kkw Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Yeah they can really motor. I fish for blackfish with an Avon centrepin reel and got knuckle dusted the other day with a big hit and run. I suspect it was a surgeonfish or trevally. They both take weed or cabbage on a regular basis. Good fun, but a brutal fighter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loxo Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Do they taste any good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewieslayer Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Do they taste any good? They are good to eat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gretsch Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 (edited) They are good to eat Very good tucker!!! Make sure you remove the skin though... it stinks like shit when it is cooked. Edited October 20, 2008 by Cephalopod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copafisher Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 I was busted up by these gray fish so many times I lured one on 30lb line.Even though it was 40cm it nearly broke my rod! Congratulations on landing one Braidbuster, apparently most people dont. What sort of rod, reel, rig and hook were you using (30lb braid or mono ?). I have seen some around and am looking at targeting them. I have now got some much stronger hooks after reading other posts and Moses's sage advice. I intend to use a 8 or 10ft GP rod and an Alvey with 30lb, blackfish float & peeled prawns & burley but think they may baulk at the heavy line. Thanks Copafisher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew399 Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Do they taste any good? I know alot of people say these are great fish to eat but im gonna have to say i didnt think they were all that special. I have only ever got one, and dont get me wrong it wasnt bad but it wasnt all that great. Especially when you have to go to so much effort to skin it etc took me about 45 mins!! Great on the end of the line though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braidbuster Posted October 20, 2008 Author Share Posted October 20, 2008 Spot on Dicko,the skin is like TWICE as tough as a Jackets! Sorry I couldn't reply as I nearly amputated the top of my thumb using an ultra sharp knife to fillet it Copa, it was got on 15kg braid with a 2m 25lb vanish leader and a size 4 X strong hook no sinker and bread bait(as that was what they liked to eat) Laredo it was over 40cm to the fork ,that was the length of my ruler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copafisher Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Thanks again Braidbuster. Sorry to hear about your thumb, ive got some scars , its usually a blunt knife but they still seem to cut you deep though . The doctor just used some steri-strips and supaglue last time instead of stitches and I 'renewed' my tetanus shot. Now I just have to wait for the sea to settle a bit and go down and see if I can bruise some knuckles on the Alvey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glennmreid Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Heard that surgeon fish are real hard fighters. Great job on landing this fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spirit_fall88 Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 nice one braidbuster! wow you manage to land them, i was going for them yesterday. You know those big 60cm ones, kingfish sized surgeons lol. Yeh i was fishing much heavier than you and still couldnt land them properly. If you want to tackle these fish, you will need really heavy drag pressure. the one i lost yesterday managed to pull my xx strong hook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinkymalinky Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Nice job to land one of them!! Cheers, Slinky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hook'm Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 They actually go as hard as a king at first but die off a bit quicker. They have a constant head shake when fighting them. Caught a few in middle harbour at anchor while targeting kingfish,every time they took fresh squid on a 5/0 octopus hook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braidbuster Posted October 21, 2008 Author Share Posted October 21, 2008 Had a fillet for dinner tonight and it was GREAT ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
royboy Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 You must've been reliving the fight with every bite! Top stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drkcld Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 (edited) They actually go as hard as a king at first but die off a bit quicker. They have a constant head shake when fighting them. Caught a few in middle harbour at anchor while targeting kingfish,every time they took fresh squid on a 5/0 octopus hook. to be honest surgeons mouths are smaller than leather jacket mouths.... and they only hang around deep structures they also don't head shake, they run straight down like a bullet train without stopping here is a clip of the surgeons i recorded http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=OkfaswGZySs Edited October 21, 2008 by drkcld Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hook'm Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 to be honest surgeons mouths are smaller than leather jacket mouths.... and they only hang around deep structures they also don't head shake, they run straight down like a bullet train without stopping here is a clip of the surgeons i recorded http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=OkfaswGZySs Hey buddy when you hook a surgeon on 60lb braid they head shake,and fish of around the 60cm mark can take a 5/0 hook easily. Heres a 60cm fish caught last year with a 6/0 hook in it cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gretsch Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Yes Hook'm.. the ones I have caught under a float whilst chasing blackfish head shake. It is like constant rattle coupled with lunges for the reef or structure. That was a good effort on a 6/0!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drkcld Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Hey buddy when you hook a surgeon on 60lb braid they head shake,and fish of around the 60cm mark can take a 5/0 hook easily. Heres a 60cm fish caught last year with a 6/0 hook in it cheers wow my bad maybe those hooks arent as big as i think they were Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braidbuster Posted October 22, 2008 Author Share Posted October 22, 2008 But why are they so STRONG ! If you look at their body in proportion to the tail ,the body is much bigger than say a Blackfish or Bream which both have realatively bigger tails. Perhaps it's like those 50kg Yellowtail Tuna with the massive round body and much smaller tail ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hook'm Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 (edited) When u look at the body shape, which is roundish the caudal and dorsal rays are long and when extended add to propulsion, so coupled with the body shape almost half the body is like a big fin ,hence the great amount of strength . i personally hate the buggers and they stink! Edited October 22, 2008 by Hook'm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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