arpie Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 (edited) Hi all In an effort to get some smoked fish pie into the fridge, I went out today to fish the top of the tide for blackies, really pleased that it seemed a half alright day, given how horrible it was yesterday! It bucketted with rain all day & the wind was howling! I'd caught a few tiddlers & tossed them back, when I finally got a good strike! It fought hard, trying to take me back under the jetty but I thwarted it's escape ....... It looked almost black in the water & I wondered if it was a big drummer! It is particularly ugly. It went 40cm & weighed about 1kg. But no, it was not a drummer ....... is it a parrot fish? No. Is it a puffer/toad fish? No. Hmmmmm huge scales, almost jewfish size with about 8 bright blue spots on each ........ I have made the pics fairly large so that you can get a better look at this weird fish! It's eye almost looked like it had cataracts (milky.) A very solid rounded body shape & it actually has a bit of a snout/proboscis protruding from its upper lip. It even reminded me of a carp, sort of! I checked out Grants book of fish - & couldn't find anything that looks remotely like this. It isn't a wrasse or cod. It's lack of teeth made the mouth look like someone without their dentures in! It's tail was large & rounded. milky eye - the skin behind the eye seems to be scale-like & you can see how they then 'become' actual scales from the gills - quite weird! It's ugly lower jawline somewhat resembles a moray eels mouth, tho it didn't appear to have any teeth to speak of, nor the parrot beak style teeth. You can see the snout/proboscis in this shot Much lighter coloured on the belly Very colourful massive scales - bright blue dots (up to 8) on each scale. Each scale is about Jewfish size (way bigger than my thumb nail.) So, whaddya reckon it is?? Cheerio Roberta Edited July 29, 2010 by Roberta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hatte Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 ????? Im with you Roberta, absolutely no idea? It looks like quite an old fish going by the damage to its mouth area, and those eyes look like you have pulled something up from the deep! Ps, where do you get your blackie floats from Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke K Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 Hi Roberta, Mmmmmm, I would have called it for a wrasse of some type but I'm not totally sure. Maybe it's some type of 'Mongrel' fish, you know abit of this and bit of that See ya Luke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingfishercam Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 It looks like a cross breed of coral trout groper,wrasse, sperm whale and a bit of nobloodyidea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yowie Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 Have never seen anything like it in any books, or in my 50 years of fishing. The closest thing would be one of the parrot fish (which are the wrasse family). You might have to take the photos to the Australian Museum. Yowie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arpie Posted July 29, 2010 Author Share Posted July 29, 2010 (edited) he he I am glad it has stumped you, cos it really stumped me!! It is still out there, swimming around, with a bit of a sore lip tho. Yep - a bit of a mongrel fish, I reckon too, Luke. Even Chris from the Caravan Park (very knowledgeable fisho) couldn't guess. We went thru the whole of Grants looking for it! Hi Bloopin - re: Ps, where do you get your blackie floats from How do you know that I hadn't made it???? Nah, I didn't! A buddy gave me a couple some years ago - using cedar & thick welding wire instead of wood for the pole. Glues a straw over it & paints it with stripes! Haven't seen him for some years now. CHeers Roberta Got some fresh cabbage this afternoon so hope to catch some blackies tomorrow!~ Edited July 29, 2010 by Roberta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.dawg Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 Cross between a wrasse and a parrotfish or sumfing Does look alot like a rusty parrot fish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.dawg Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 may i add... can''t really be a parrotfish unless its got mutated mouth or sumfing LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACIMA Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 G'day Roberta, WOW It's ugly yet beautiful at the same time and I can't take my eyes off it. Can it be a new species? It looks like coral bald chin parrot wrasse to me It was a shame about the lack of blackies but I'd be pretty chuffed landing that fish whatever it is. Did it put up much of a fight? It was a shame we missed you at the social, but can I just say Roberta I've just finished reading the article you did for world on top water breaming and all kudos to you. It had everything you needed to know plus more and the pics were bloody fantastic especially the bream release one would have to be one of the best fishing pics I've seen. Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinkymalinky Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 Hi Roberta... found it. I think it's a Blue-Spotted Parrotfish. Leptoscarus vaigiensis. According to my reference books a very unusual capture. It's a tropical species more commonly found in WA but ranging around Northern Australia to NSW. Pretty sure that's the one. http://australianmuseum.net.au/Blue-spotted-Parrotfish-Leptoscarus-vaigiensis-Quoy-Gaimard-1824 Cheers, Slinky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Day's Fishin Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 Hi Roberta, I think its a Venus Tusk-Fish. Regards Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil D Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 looks like this thing has been swimming through a nuclear swamp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil D Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 he he I am glad it has stumped you, cos it really stumped me!! It is still out there, swimming around, with a bit of a sore lip tho. Yep - a bit of a mongrel fish, I reckon too, Luke. Even Chris from the Caravan Park (very knowledgeable fisho) couldn't guess. We went thru the whole of Grants looking for it! Hi Bloopin - re: Ps, where do you get your blackie floats from How do you know that I hadn't made it???? Nah, I didn't! A buddy gave me a couple some years ago - using cedar & thick welding wire instead of wood for the pole. Glues a straw over it & paints it with stripes! Haven't seen him for some years now. CHeers Roberta Got some fresh cabbage this afternoon so hope to catch some blackies tomorrow!~ Hi Roberta, looks like thats about the full size they grow, looks old, reckong its a fish raider record as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arpie Posted July 30, 2010 Author Share Posted July 30, 2010 I think it's a Blue-Spotted Parrotfish. Leptoscarus vaigiensis. According to my reference books a very unusual capture. It's a tropical species more commonly found in WA but ranging around Northern Australia to NSW. Pretty sure that's the one. http://australianmus...oy-Gaimard-1824 Cheers, Slinky Woohoo!! Well done, Tony!! Excellent sleuthing!! That is it exactly!!! Wonder what the female looks like. Such a weird looking thing!! So my first guess was right, sort of!! I'd been watching this big black thing hanging under the jetty for a while & can only assume it was this fish, once I caught it!! The blue spots on it were absolutely luminous! Do I qualify as a "Blue Spotted Parrotfish" Leptoscarus vaigiensis RECORD HOLDER for Fishraider?? (thanks Groper - forgot about THAT!!) Cheerio Roberta Off to the breakwall to do battle again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinkymalinky Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 Sure do, Roberta. I'll sort it out for you this evening. Cheers, Slinky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puppydawg Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 whatever it is, it needs to see a dentist and start flossing!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FISHARK Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 (edited) OMG now thats an ugly fish !!! Edited July 30, 2010 by FISHARK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trapper Tom Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 Hey Roberta. I was gunna call it for a bitsa parrot fish (bitsa this bitsa that). Certianly is a wierd one. Also don't forget PeterS posts, toothy critters, not one of those there yet:thumbup: Cheers Trapper Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebottle18 Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 Did it have bad breath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tide'n'knots Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 (edited) Hi Roberta... found it. I think it's a Blue-Spotted Parrotfish. Leptoscarus vaigiensis. According to my reference books a very unusual capture. It's a tropical species more commonly found in WA but ranging around Northern Australia to NSW. Pretty sure that's the one. http://australianmuseum.net.au/Blue-spotted-Parrotfish-Leptoscarus-vaigiensis-Quoy-Gaimard-1824 Cheers, Slinky did you notice the photo on the right of the attachment tony???? it said - taken at - you guessed it - FORSTER!!!! maybe they are a little more common up your way than we thought roberta. pete. Edited July 30, 2010 by tide'n'knots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harold Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 spitting image of my ex. Did you find it wandering around double bay? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 What an odd ball i have never seen anything like it before.I think its got a slight resemblance to Uncle Festa of the munsters.. : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saad Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 Hi Roberta, Its a Parrot fish,I've caught it before as well. Parrot fish family have 4-5 different relatives and some of them can grow up to 10kgs! Cheers, SAAD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wttmrwolf Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 You might have a new record for Blue Spotted Parrotfish According to that link 38cm is the size they grow to, yours was 40cm! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keflapod Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 (edited) Hi Roberta, What an amazing capture. I was half expecting Dr julian Pepperill to submit a post ! It's scales look oversize for the size of fish and they also don't look elliptical either. It reminds me of a Ceolocanth ! It's teeth are also crusher type pads - line a big ocean toadfish. With a solid head like that, it looks like it must have headbutted the wharf a few times to try to knock you off it so it can escape ! Were you afraid to touch it in case it had some nuclear neurotoxin in it's dorsal spines ? Tony Edited August 3, 2010 by Keflapod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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