What Species is This?

[Gatte]

Hi All,

I was out fishing on Avoca Lake today on NSW central coast. Good day with about a dozen bream or so of all sizes, but my smallest fish of the day was the most interesting. It was a species I've never seen before and was wondering if anyone else had and could tell me more about it. I took a quick photo before throwing the little guy back and noticed that he had some pretty nasty looking spikes behind his gills, as well as some mean looking teeth in a pretty big mouth for its size. Cool looking fish, and although it didnt put up much of a fight (due to its size obviously), it did feel quite strong through the body while I was removing the hook. Hopefully someone can give me some info because I haven't found anything on the net so far.

Thanks, and happy fishing,

Gatts.

Edited June 22, 2012 by Gatts

[A.dawg]

I think it's some sort of trumpeter

[Blackfish]

I'll take a guess and call it a Crescent Grunter.

Terapon jarbua

[rjc123]

Not sure of the name however i got truckloads of them in a castnet in weipa (cape york). Could be a crescent grunter i guess

[Gatte]

Crescent Grunter it is, Had a look on the web. Thanks guys.

[sam bros]

i have caught heaps of them in terrigal lagoon and clifton gardens

they usually take bait aimed at catching live bait, they take tiny nibbles on the bait and it gets really frustrating

happy to finally know what they are

do they grow any bigger

[Blackfish]

Hi Sam Bros.

What i recon you have caught is a Eastern Striped Grunter Pelates sexlineatus, super common..

Pull them up and when you hold before releasing them they go grunt grunt grunt.

Don't grow very big unfortunatly.

[Gatte]

Did some research, only about 25 cm. Do you know any good spots for live bait too? Only new to the area.