What fish is this?

[Holls]

Around the wharf at Ulladulla there are shoals of small striped fish that look a bit like yakkas with vertical stripes (bit deeper in the body). What are they and are they ok to catch as live bait?

[Mr Squidy]

Possibly Slimy Mackerel in which case they make great livies or butterfly/slab baits. They wont survive as well as yakkas as livies and will swim around a lot more but kingies particularly love them.

Do a quick image search and that should confirm if its what you're looking at.

R

Edited August 15, 2014 by Mr Squidy

[Holls]

Thanks Mr Squidy but I think these are thinner, deeper bodied fish and just play around the pylons. They look like they'd be easy to catch on a tinsel bait fish rig.

[Blackfish]

I would guess either

Stripies. Microcanthus strigatus.

OR

Eastern Striped Grunter. Pelates sexlineatus

[Holls]

Thanks Blackfish, but I don't think so. Better go back and catch a couple I think. Trouble is, back in Victoria right now. Can't wait until we finally take up permanent residence at Ulladulla. I'll be on a steep learning curve then. Know a fair bit about Victorian fishing but so much great new stuff going on up the NSW south coast. (Well it's 'up' for me)

[Holls]

Yep, not bad swordfisherman. That's as closer a match as I've seen. Will check more carefully when I return.

http://www.scuba-equipment-usa.com/marine/AUG04/Golden_Trevally(Gnathanodon_speciosus).html

[Mr Squidy]

Hmm, deeper body and striped maybe Juvenile blackfish too then?

[SquidMarks]

i would hazzard a guess either blackfish or juvenile trevally (if they have that silvery sheen).

[SquidMarks]

doh! already beaten to it! thats what i get for not scrolling to the bottom!