Caught In Sydney Harbour

[Madden]

Hi Raiders, caught this fish in Sydney Harbour a few weeks ago chasing yakkas never seen one before.

It had iridescent blue lines above and below its eyes.

Any idea what fish it is?

[boattart]

It can be hard with juvenile fish but did you notice if the inside of the mouth was red. It does look like a Red Throat Emperor but if it is it would be lost.

[rjc123]

Looks like a juvenile Blue-Line Emperor to me. Odd capture this far south, especially in Winter!

[Madden]

Yes my thoughts were it was a juvenile Sweet Lip or Red Throat Emperor but I didn't notice any red coloration in its mouth when my son caught it, obviously we threw it back.

[Krispy !]

Looks like spangled emperor

[PRED-ATOR]

that fish shares an uncanny resemblance to a spangled emperor

[A.dawg]

I think it's a juvenile javelin fish at least that's what we call em when we get them as a by catch in the hacking

[rjc123]

I think it's a juvenile javelin fish at least that's what we call em when we get them as a by catch in the hacking

Javelin fish ? We don't get them this far down mate.. Mainly a tropical estuarine species up north coming as far south as about tweed heads. What does the fish you've caught in the hacking look like ?

[Madden]

I think it's a juvenile javelin fish at least that's what we call em when we get them as a by catch in the hacking

I think your right juvenile javelin fish do you get them to any size in the hacking?

[rjc123]

I think your right juvenile javelin fish do you get them to any size in the hacking?

I'd like to say its a javelin fish because they're fantastic eating They don't come down this way though. Almost guarantee its a small spangled emperor/blue line emperor...

[Black Bandit]

The fish is a member of the Lethrinidae (family of fish that contains emporers).

Common name - Lancer; Scientific name - Lethrinella nematacantha; recognised by having elongated second dorsal spine and a small dark blotch on body below lateral line and near the middle of the pectoral fin.

Picture of fish can be found in Grant's Guide to Fishes

[Blackfish]

Thanks B.B. for that.

Reading up about them and they say

South to Jervis Bay. Juviniles occur commonly in Sydney Harbour and Botany

According to Rudie H Kuiter.

[sydangler]

I'm calling it for a spangled emperor they are more common in Sydney then most people think. I've never caught one but I've seen lots diving and a few friends have landed then snapper fishing.

[Aspherious]

its a sweetlip, its just lightened its colouring because its be living in a sandy environment for some time. ive seen the same thing sometimes up in queensland. unusual catch for this time of year, they are usually a summer fish.

Edited June 16, 2012 by Aspherious

[mrollo]

i think it might be a spangled emporor. I caught this one earlier in the year... the must be a bit lost though

its a sweetlip, its just lightened its colouring because its be living in a sandy environment for some time. ive seen the same thing sometimes up in queensland. unusual catch for this time of year, they are usually a summer fish.

[htul]

Threadfin emperor (Lethrinus genivittatus) - this species has a relatively characteristic "St Peter's thumb"-like blotch under the dorsal fin (absent in spangled emperors)