John Dory Tips

[fragmeister]

Hi Fishraiders,

With winter species starting to infiltrate Sydney Harbour I am keen to target a fish I have never caught so John Dory are on my list.

Many years ago targeting Hairtail off Clifton Gardens I saw a number of these caught by some old Italian guys who eventually became

fishing mates even though they barely spoke a word of english. Its amazing how much we all understood after a few glasses of their home made vino (read rocket fuel). Sadly, they have been gone for some time now and well before they passed the required fishing knowledge on to me!

Any fishraiders with any experience in catching these fish? I would love to hear any suggestions that may improve my chances of catching one of these critters.

Cheers

Jim

[rockfisherman]

Never caught one or targeted them...

But every time I speak to someone who seems to know about catching them, they all tell me the same thing...

Small yakka on a 20lb hand line, with a big sinker at the foot of the warf.

Harry

If it's to good to be true, it usually is...

[Crossfire63]

Add bread burley to the mix the keep the yakka's around and you should be in business

[fat_souvlaki]

Ive read to also trim the tail of the yakka as dory swim quite slow

[thefisherman6784]

I met this guy that caught one and he told me...

Light line then a light to medium size sinker (running ball sinker rig) with a light to medium lb long leader down to a circle hook (of whatever size u want but not to big or small) with a little live yakka pinned in the back and then the waiting game begins.

Good luck

Hope this helps

Cheers thefisherman6784

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[Yowie]

Ive read to also trim the tail of the yakka as dory swim quite slow

Not fast swimmers, but I watched one chase a yakka under my boat some years ago. The yakka swam around in circles, with this silly dory following behind but not able to catch it. The dory eventually gave up, and the line was very badly twisted after that.

Have also seen a dory not much over the 30cm mark, chasing bully mullet about 40cm long. The dory tried for several minutes, but the mullet just flicked their tails to move out of it's way each time.

Any small fish will catch a john dory. Have not fished for them for some years, but the ones in Gunnamatta Bay were usually full of small whiting, while the ones in South West Arm were full of small blackfish.

Have seen them swim into shallow water, side on like a flounder, to catch poddy mullet, but then not able to swim backwards. On 2 occasions, I jumped into the shallow water to grab them by hand. An easy feed.

Even caught a couple of dead baits, and one on a squid head.

A small live fish, sitting a couple of feet off the bottom, is the best idea. Occasionally, a tailor or something else will have a go at the livie, so that will liven up the action.

Sometimes the dory will be just hanging on to the livie, though not actually hooked, and when near the surface, will open it's mouth and the livie will just fall out of it's big mouth. If you are quick enough when the dory opens it's mouth, you can grab it by the bottom jaw (just stick your fingers into it's big mouth, they don't bite) and lift it onboard. Have done that a few times.

[rockfisherman]

 

Not fast swimmers, but I watched one chase a yakka under my boat some years ago. The yakka swam around in circles, with this silly dory following behind but not able to catch it. The dory eventually gave up, and the line was very badly twisted after that.

 

Have also seen a dory not much over the 30cm mark, chasing bully mullet about 40cm long. The dory tried for several minutes, but the mullet just flicked their tails to move out of it's way each time.

 

Any small fish will catch a john dory. Have not fished for them for some years, but the ones in Gunnamatta Bay were usually full of small whiting, while the ones in South West Arm were full of small blackfish.

 

Have seen them swim into shallow water, side on like a flounder, to catch poddy mullet, but then not able to swim backwards. On 2 occasions, I jumped into the shallow water to grab them by hand. An easy feed.

 

Even caught a couple of dead baits, and one on a squid head.

 

A small live fish, sitting a couple of feet off the bottom, is the best idea. Occasionally, a tailor or something else will have a go at the livie, so that will liven up the action.

 

Sometimes the dory will be just hanging on to the livie, though not actually hooked, and when near the surface, will open it's mouth and the livie will just fall out of it's big mouth. If you are quick enough when the dory opens it's mouth, you can grab it by the bottom jaw (just stick your fingers into it's big mouth, they don't bite) and lift it onboard. Have done that a few times.

So from what I understand, the John Dory is not the sharpest tool in the shed...

Harry

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[mike2153]

Hahaha basically, they sound slow and dumb, and have eyes bigger than there stomach, I'll be targeting them this winter in te harbour they sound like fun

[Krispy !]

Not easy to catch guys have done over a dozen sessions targetting them in winter with small yakkas landbased, always seem to get bycatch of salmon and tailor but have only caught 1 dory.

[fragmeister]

Thanks all,

All fits in with what I have read.

Interesting observations that the JD's have trouble catching a live bait.

I know they are ambush predators and they shoot out that extendable mouth to capture food… perhaps out in the open

the live bait can easily out pace them.

Given how slow they are I wonder how often a livey is taken when its all tuckered out.

I like the idea of clipping the tail fin to slow them down.

[Yowie]

So from what I understand, the John Dory is not the sharpest tool in the shed...

Harry

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They are quite a smart fish, but just like humans, there are a few dumb ones in the group (look at some of the humans in their late teens/ early 20's)

To figure out that they could turn side on and swim into shallow to catch food is smart (not realising they could not then turn around to swim back to deeper water, not so smart) Some fish can swim backwards, such as various reef species, parrotfish and also bream in calm water.

Edited May 9, 2014 by yowie

[Yowie]

Thanks all,

All fits in with what I have read.

Interesting observations that the JD's have trouble catching a live bait.

I know they are ambush predators and they shoot out that extendable mouth to capture food… perhaps out in the open

the live bait can easily out pace them.

Given how slow they are I wonder how often a livey is taken when its all tuckered out.

I like the idea of clipping the tail fin to slow them down.

Just the odd one trying to outrun a livie, or catch too big a fish for it's mouth. Not all are the same, just look at some of the not so smart humans, lots of different people in the world.

I have observed other dory slowly swimming underneath schools of whitebait, their fins just moving, and their big mouth opening quickly and swallowing fish after fish. Barramundi feed in a similar way to dory, the big mouth opens quickly, creating a vacuum and the bait fish disappears down the hatch before it realises what has happened.

I don't fish for dory any more, but in my younger days, I caught plenty, and had time to observe their feeding and swimming habits. Fishing from a wharf, before I owned a boat, put me higher above the water, and made it easier to look down at the fish and observe what was going on.

[fragmeister]

Just the odd one trying to outrun a livie, or catch too big a fish for it's mouth. Not all are the same, just look at some of the not so smart humans, lots of different people in the world.

I have observed other dory slowly swimming underneath schools of whitebait, their fins just moving, and their big mouth opening quickly and swallowing fish after fish. Barramundi feed in a similar way to dory, the big mouth opens quickly, creating a vacuum and the bait fish disappears down the hatch before it realises what has happened.

I don't fish for dory any more, but in my younger days, I caught plenty, and had time to observe their feeding and swimming habits. Fishing from a wharf, before I owned a boat, put me higher above the water, and made it easier to look down at the fish and observe what was going on.

Thanks Yowie,

All good information.

I have watched enough David Attenborough documentaries to know that all creatures have a survival strategy that has allowed the to survive and thrive through millions of years of evolution.

John Dory may look a little slow but no doubt they have a very effective if not specialised hunting method. That compressed body, extendable mouth and stealthy approach obviously works for them.

I will let you all know how I go.

Thanks again for your tips.

Cheers

Jim

[possumms]

I'm not sure about Aussie John Dorys but in nz growing up I always used baby snapper as live bait not sure what the law is in Australia for using baby snapper for bait but it always worked the best it was nothing to bring home 5 or 6 in a sitting. And they are not as slow as you may think.

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[Jew Stalker]

I'm not sure about Aussie John Dorys but in nz growing up I always used baby snapper as live bait not sure what the law is in Australia for using baby snapper for bait but it always worked the best it was nothing to bring home 5 or 6 in a sitting. And they are not as slow as you may think.

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Anything undersize is not allowed on your line unless hooked on a bait or lure. Live bait must be used over legal size limits if using a fish with a size limit.

Luc.

[jordy]

^{Hey caught a fair few Dory use to target them all the time deep clear water near structure and baitfish, trim the fins on your small yakkas or I found small live sweep to be dynamite on the dory.Handlines are ok or a soft action rod but don't strike too early or hard the rigs mentioned above are spot on although I found hooking up your livies behind the head better.Best of all great tucker.Good luck hope u post up some success soon mate.}

[aeb870]

Are they night time species?

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[fragmeister]

Are they night time species?

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Thats when they are mostly fished for. I suspect this is part of their ambush strategy.

Cheers

Jim

[Yowie]

Are they night time species?

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Caught most of mine from first light to just after sunrise.