Good fish Bad fish

[recurve]

Hi all,

Thought I would point out an observation I have made. Moved to Aussie nearly 4 years ago. I was very confused about a few things when I got into the fishing scene. One was how Aussies go mad about this fish called Luderick. People specialise in catching this fish and rave about it's deliciousness. In storms I see old boys in full wet weather gear fishing for them in atrocious conditions. Madness!!

Being a Kiwi this is just mystifying.

In NZ we have the same fish and we call it Parore. It is very prolific and very easy to catch. Just go to a mariner and send down a pea on a hook. Great fish to get the kids onto. Sometimes they take squid. If you catch a Parore you bring it up, take the hook out and send it back. If you have any onlookers they will all remind you that it is a shit fish and best to get rid of it. Or you will be advised to cut the black gut lining out quick smart. But even then it is sneered at.

We used to get ET fishing escapes and we would all be puzzled at he and his mates getting excited about Luderick...Parore. They would anchor dangerously close to wash all in order to catch this shit fish. Amazing. We never understood why he got excited about Bream and I still don't understand the fascination. I do however completely understand the magic of the Jew Fish.

On the flip side, we love our Kahawai (Salmon) We smoke it and love it. You can buy whole Smoked Salmon in many supermarkets in NZ. But here people think I am strange when I tell them how Lush Salmon is.

The other big surprise for me was Flathead. we don't have them. You have no idea how strange it is to see the worlds most ugliest fish being so sort after. I understand now. they are simply devine.

So each to there own I guess. Just a funny thing. One country has a culture where this fish is held in high regard and the other does not rate it, and I mean does not rate it as all!]. I have tried a Luderick when I got one as an accident. I was not that impressed with it. I still consider it to be a shit fish. But I am happy to try it again or take advice on how I can make it decent. I found it to be a very muddy meat.

Oh one other thing that still mystifies me. In the Boat Code (Is that what we call it) You must have a set of oars if under 6m. What on earth are a set of oars going to do in a boat larger then 5.5m. How will these help? I have more control of the boat with a Drogue and a second Anchor rope and Chain. I have asked Maritime Police at the shows and they agree with me but say if I don't have them I will get fined. One even presented me with some small 3 foot plastic oars and said that is all I need. WHAT!! I don't want to carry useless crap. No one seems to understand why this is law but it is.

Just an observation.

Pic on left is Luderick and on right is a Parore

Edited August 18, 2016 by recurve

[JonD]

I'm with you there, luderick, drummer and morwong etc taste awfull. I've been eating salmon smoked or plain filleted with the blood line cut off for years and love them. Tailor are also pretty poor in my opininion with bream only slightly above them. Jews over 7 kg are pretty good but few and far between to catch.

Kings and snapper are ok and things like blue eye trevalla or blue nose from your parts are getting up Into the tasty section. Having just come back from northern QLD I've now been spoilt by the likes of coral trout and emperors etc.

Jon

[laddercat]

Ive seen very few people target luderick in washes from their boats. Sure ET wasnt chasing drummer ? closely related. Far superior as a sport fish and table fish in my onion. Pull harder go harder and less likely to have the weed taint. Also the old blokes you talk about chasing luderick in storm conditions sound more like drummer. In The annual eastern lowes around the start of winter, luderick schools up in harbours and bays and fisherman target them there rather then on the exposed rock faces where drummer are more prolific. It is VERY hard to chase luderick when a storm and swell hit a certain point because line lay and float management become extremely difficult. Compare this to drummer where you can fish largely by feel with a sinker directly to the hook.

Flathead werent considered a table fish until more recently and whiting were considered a fish for the elderly now they both cost a fortune and are targeted elusively by certain anglers.

Multiculturalism has been one of the greatest gifts to fishing and seafood australia ever received, japanese and migrants from the Mediterranean have shared their vast wealth of knowledge on which fish to eat and how to prepare.

A shame the 60's and 70's were spent raping southern bluefin and yellowfin because they were considered easy targets and used for cat food and fertilizer. You could drive from bermagui harbour or twofold bay to the continental shelf across one giant school of migrating bluefin. Yellowfin could be seen along the entire south coast chasing bait as close in as just behind the surf zone. Our ignorance and arrogance toward certain species has condemned them.

Now personally i realize there are very few 'trash table fish' nearly every species is consumed by some ethnicity or community using techniques which can produce incredible flavour.

On the topic of overfishing if the NSW DPI dont rectify luderick and drummer bag sizes in the future we might be once again reflecting on our ignorance. Luderick and drummer have seen an absolute incredible surge in popularity as sport fish and table fish and bag limits of 10 per person are ludicrous. Not to mention now with the advent of high performance spinning reels and graphite rods these species are accessible to nearly any angler regardless of experience or skill. Fishing pressure will only increase.

[cameldownunder]

From my side, I like perch redfin. They are a delicacy where I come from. It would never come to my mind to throw them away.

If you think that flathead is an ugly fish, my guess is that you have not seen a lot of other fish.

Long time ago I caught an Australian salmon. Did bleed it and put the fillets in mild overnight. Result was a lovely fish fillet.

Another time I went fishing with friends, and together we caught ( and released ) about 40 of them, without keeping one, to my dismay.

I have small oars too, in my 4.8m boat. Fortunately never had to use them. A friend of mine, did run out of petrol in Lake Maquarie, and he and his freiend paddled 1/2 way back, till someone gave them a tow.

Mi guess is that you can steer clean on obstacles when running with the tide.

[recurve]

I'm with you there, luderick, drummer and morwong etc taste awfull. I've been eating salmon smoked or plain filleted with the blood line cut off for years and love them. Tailor are also pretty poor in my opininion with bream only slightly above them. Jews over 7 kg are pretty good but few and far between to catch.

Kings and snapper are ok and things like blue eye trevalla or blue nose from your parts are getting up Into the tasty section. Having just come back from northern QLD I've now been spoilt by the likes of coral trout and emperors etc.

Jon

Hapuka is devine. Similar to Blue Nose. I like Morwong but find you have to add flavour to the meat. We always do a Cajun Rub on it and it is good.

[recurve]

From my side, I like perch redfin. They are a delicacy where I come from. It would never come to my mind to throw them away.

If you think that flathead is an ugly fish, my guess is that you have not seen a lot of other fish.

Long time ago I caught an Australian salmon. Did bleed it and put the fillets in mild overnight. Result was a lovely fish fillet.

Another time I went fishing with friends, and together we caught ( and released ) about 40 of them, without keeping one, to my dismay.

I have small oars too, in my 4.8m boat. Fortunately never had to use them. A friend of mine, did run out of petrol in Lake Maquarie, and he and his freiend paddled 1/2 way back, till someone gave them a tow.

Mi guess is that you can steer clean on obstacles when running with the tide.

This would be a practical explanation but the rules are you only need them when 2 Nm offshore. I would not get very far with oars in my boat. We would be puckered out after 15 min trying to move it. I think Flathead are right up there in the ugly fish range, they sure are ugly.

[cameldownunder]

This would be a practical explanation but the rules are you only need them when 2 Nm offshore. I would not get very far with oars in my boat. We would be puckered out after 15 min trying to move it. I think Flathead are right up there in the ugly fish range, they sure are ugly.

From http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/maritime/safety-rules/publications/boating-safety-checklist-brochure.pdf

In enclosed waters ...... "Paddles or oars and rowlocks (in vessels under 6 metres unless a second means of propulsion is fitted)."

Flatheads always reminds me of

[big Neil]

Horses for courses recurve, as you say. I'm originally from the UK where Carp are treated better than pensioners. lol. Here however we have the right idea. Knock them on the head and get rid of them. Not sure I agree with YOUR assessment on what tastes good or not, but hey taste is in the mouth of the beholder. Cheers.

[guimaras]

Flavour of the fish depends on the location I think. In Japan and SE Asia, yakkas are a delicacy. I personally chase them here in Sydney(my mates call me the yakka king. Lol)...however, IMO the yakkas back home taste better than the ones here. Hence, people's opinion differ. Also, the way of cooking it makes a lot of difference. Personally, I am not a sambo fan(always catch and release when I get them) but I did try a smoked one from NZ and they are divine. Problem is, I am too lazy to smoke them at home.

[recurve]

From http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/maritime/safety-rules/publications/boating-safety-checklist-brochure.pdf

In enclosed waters ...... "Paddles or oars and rowlocks (in vessels under 6 metres unless a second means of propulsion is fitted)."

Flatheads always reminds me of

I have been told by Maritime Police that it is only offshore and last weekend a Fishing Officer doing promo and training at the ramp told me 2 nm offshore. Do people carry oars? Has anyone been fined for having no oars?

[rickmarlin62]

recurve all you need is to learn preparation of luderick for eating and you may be surprised at how good they are..i bleed the fish by cutting throat latch..let them bleed out for a few mins then fillet..then turn fillet over and skin..i then cut straight above the bone and blood line in centre of fillet and below said line and up to the last rib bone..you now have a long and a short piece of boneless prime eating fish...no weed flavor .mud or any otherbad taste....I cook up these pieces at bbqs and no one can pik what it is..but they all come back for more...rick

[recurve]

I have had this exact same drama. My boat is 7m long, the rule says boats less than 6m without second means of propulsion are to carry a paddle.

I was collecting bait just outside Port Kembla break wall when I was stopped by water police for safety check. I was told by the officer I was "offshore" once I came outside the harbour entrance even tho well within 2nm. We had a discussion about carrying a paddle and between the two officers they couldn't come to a conclusion wether or not I was to carry one. They took my details and said they would contact me to clarify " I was expecting a fine in the mail". I never heard from them and I now have a paddle stashed in the cabin.

Wow so there is confusion. The PDF linked above seems pretty straight forward. Confusion is probably due to it being a stupid rule. I have more control over my direction with a Drogue than with oars. Can't believe they wanted to fine you for it. Maybe I will go and get some short paddles which will offer me little to no benefit. Noticed that they don't list a sea anchor as a key piece of safety kit.

Lets say I lost my motor offshore and the weather was bad. If I was offered either oars or a Drogue (Sea Anchor) I would lunge for the Drogue. At least I could control the direction my bow was pointing to.

[Cargo05]

I have to agree about the oars, on any boat over about 4 meters, particularly with high gunnels and no oar locks.

[NaClH2OK9]

Just to fall the other side if the fence. I've a 5.2 ally half cab and used to launch from gunamatta all the time solo ( shallow cr4p ramp) .

I always used my oars to get me into deep enough water to drop my prop.

Would have been lost without them.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

Edited August 22, 2016 by NaClH2OK9

[Guest Guest123456789]

Oars are near useless. Get a bow mount electric motor than you can ditch the damn things. From a safety perspective I feel good knowing I have the bow mount as back up should the outboard fail.

[Guest]

The oar is in case you lose your steering I think and you can attach it to your outboard and you could use it as a rudder