This is the topic to post your fish queries on so that others can help identify your fish. If such a topic already exists can we bring it to the fropn and keep it active?
I saw a massive black and white fish of the rocks at mount martha the other and I am almost certain it was a giant boarfish. It would have been 70 to 80 cm long. Never seen one before now but I'm pretty certain from jazmans web site that it was indeed a giant boar fish.
Also, what are those small zebra striped fish that I see out at rye all the time? They only get to about 20 cm max, if that. Are they a type of sweep?
Nah Glen, I'm pretty sure this time - I dont know what else it could have been mate. She was a big one, but I dont reckon it had as big a snout as the one in your link. Jesus I regret missing it I tells ya. It took off that quick I never even saw it again let alone got another shot off! I didnt think it would have had that sort of speed just looking at it.
Sounds like it could be a giant boarfish, it would be a very rare sighting though if it was, they are a deepwater fish, and only occasionally found on shallower reefs adjacent to deeper water. They are a reasonably common catch for spearfishers in New Zealand.
As for your stripey fish, I agree with Glen, they could be zebra fish, but zebras can get quite large (my book says 54cm). Maybe you've only been seeing little fellas. Could also be a banded sweep (another rare one in VIC), or a moonlighter - there is a picture of a moonlighter in Glen's photos from Mt Martha:
yeah thanks jazman I reckon I'll order it over the internet tonight. I treckon those zebra fish are probabely moonlighters - theyre definately not rare whatever they are!
I still have my heart set on the fish I saw being a giant boar fish!
Also, I've never seen a leather jacket like the one in the photo from stony point pier.
That's not a leatherjacket, it's a cowfish. And it's poisonous so don't eat one!
There are stacks of different species of leatherjackets in Victoria, that all look quite different. So far I've speared six-spined, horseshoe, toothbrush, mosaic, rough, yellow-striped, chinaman and black reef leatherjackets.
Maybe an Old Wife IMO. Has anyonwe caugth Magpie Perch? I caught a dozen of these aswell as 5 Barber Perch from Queenscliff on a 5 buck charter. The magpie perch were strong fight on 6lb tackle and were quiet prolific.
I've caught heaps of them, especially spear fishing, they are abundant around Lorne, but I don't take them any more as I prefer eating leatherjackets and sweep. I find they have a bit of a weedy taste.
