Fish Id

[146C]

Anybody know what this fish is?

Would have been near 30cm.

Caught and released it at Old Woman Island this morning.

Thanks,

Dave

[tunaticer]

That be definitely a black spinefoot, AKA happy moment AKA black trevally.

Wonderful little creatures intent on destroying all hopes of a good day on the water when they manage to spine you.

Funny enough though, they are incredibly good livebaits that get taken quite quickly..........cod, kingfish, mackeral and jewfish are pretty good suckers for one set out as a livie.

[uglyfish]

yep happy moment,and they hurt like christ...

[Gorey1]

That's it.
Happy moment. In the rabbitfishes/spinefoot family (Siganidae family, the Siganus genus), most of which have the poisonous spines to ruin your day. Lucky you didn't cop one!
Whenever I get one it goes right back with great care. Bigger ones fight extremely hard and are an annoying Blackfish bycatch.
I've copped a sting from a very small one on my thumb getting him out of a cast net and that will do me for a 'happy moment' thank you.
BTW, I love their evil green eye!

[jtpython]

They reckon........... in the islands area's that if stung or spined cut their eye in half and rub on the wound. My oldman tried it and no avail but maybe it works Hot water is better
JT
Trust me i know dropped one on the top of my foot once

[uglyfish]

yeah i got hit and holy crap what pain....never felt nothing like it..

[146C]

Thanks guys.

Glad I followed: if ya don't know it ya don't touch it.

Cheers,

Dave

[Sea-Dog]

I got hit by one years ago in my trawler days.

I saw him laying on the deck and I thought I'd do the sensible thing and push him out through one of the scuppers.

I was wearing thongs for some reason and I put the side of my thong against his belly and was in the process of pushing him out through the scupper when a bit of a wave hit the side of the trawler and sends water pouring in through the scuppers.

The water flipped him over and most of the spines embedded themselves in the side of my foot.

I remember laying on the floor of the wheelhouse with my very swollen foot feeling like the skin was going to tear with every throbbing heart beat.

It eventually settled down after about 3 hours.

I DON'T want to go through anything like that again thankyou :'(

[moorie86]

Hey guys, I got done a few years back. My "happy moment" resulted in a swollen hand and lots of pain. I knew what it was and tried removing from my hook but slipped and got spiked. Now if i cant get the hook out easily, i cut the line.

[Marlin_Mike]

The toxins are a protein. The hot water sets the toxin, much like hot water sets an egg when you boil it.

This setting of the toxin stops it spreading, and helps minimise the length of time it hurts. Thats what the doctor at redlands told me 3 years ago after 4 needles were needed stop and block the pain after a big catty got me in the lOgan River.

Man it hurt big time.

Mike

[Belly72]

Believe it or not good Coral Trout bait.

[Outsider1]

Believe it or not good Coral Trout bait.

They are apparently very edible from what I have heard, but few are silly enough to try and fillet them!

[Kendall249]

make good bait for alot of reefies, seen big cod eat them boatside as I was throwing them back

[Sea-Dog]

They are apparently very edible from what I have heard, but few are silly enough to try and fillet them!

I was silly enough to whack a couple of fillets off one - no injury.

Fried it on the barby and it tasted as bitter as all get out.

I had to spit it out. YUCK !!!

It was cooked within 15 minutes of being caught.