In search Of New Ground - What fish is this?

[hooknose]

Its definately a Giant Herring lads not a tarpon, these fish used to have the highest fighting factor of any fish( ANSA ) and always throw a major turn when hooked. Congrats !!!

[Scalem]

Agree with Greg......how did you know you werent breaking the law taking a fish home that you couldnt confirm ID?

also- giant herring are not tarpon. 2 completely different species.

Well I knew that it was definitely not a Lungfish And any regulations concering the size / capture of species in Moreton Bay, I've plastered stickers all over the boat and update them regularly. We thought they were pelagic fish related to the Salmon but Alas, they were not. Let's move on.

Scalem

[Adamy]

Well done Brian and Droo,


Those giant herring or tarpon can really pull I caught one a heap smaller than that a few years back on really light line and I thought it was never going to come in - one of the best fights I've ever had!


Cheers,

Adam

[Matthias]

why would you keep something that smells like an old pilchard?

Man you guys must be hungry. They are def not good to eat and would be good bait but why use such an uncommon sportfish as bait???????

You sound like cowboys when you post up fish that you've kept and don't know if they are edible.

Pete.

[Poodroo]

why would you keep something that smells like an old pilchard?

Man you guys must be hungry. They are def not good to eat and would be good bait but why use such an uncommon sportfish as bait???????

You sound like cowboys when you post up fish that you've kept and don't know if they are edible.

Pete.

Well first of all I had a fair idea of what they were but was a little unsure of it never having caught one. Nobody knows everything about fishing and if we make mistakes we learn from it. There was a 50/50 chance that it was going to be edible so we took a chance on it only to discover they weren't so we learned a valuable lesson and won't ever do it again. As for the possibility of them being rare, endangered or otherwise we do know enough about a lot of species out there to know they do not fit into any of those categories so didn't see the harm in a least trying them. The thing is we caught them and have learned from the experience. Those who know us personally would vouch that we are far from being cowboys so put away the hangman's noose and move on.

Thanks Adamy, yes they do go extremely hard especially when played on light gear. Good fun but we'll know they are catch and release fish for the future and will stick to the Snapper from now on if they will play the game.

Poodroo

[Scalem]

Well first of all I had a fair idea of what they were but was a little unsure of it never having caught one. Nobody knows everything about fishing and if we make mistakes we learn from it. There was a 50/50 chance that it was going to be edible so we took a chance on it only to discover they weren't so we learned a valuable lesson and won't ever do it again. As for the possibility of them being rare, endangered or otherwise we do know enough about a lot of species out there to know they do not fit into any of those categories so didn't see the harm in a least trying them. The thing is we caught them and have learned from the experience. Those who know us personally would vouch that we are far from being cowboys so put away the hangman's noose and move on.

Thanks Adamy, yes they do go extremely hard especially when played on light gear. Good fun but we'll know they are catch and release fish for the future and will stick to the Snapper from now on if they will play the game.

Poodroo

The way amateur fishos are catching Snapper with SP's these days, who knows, it may be Legal to take giant herring home for a feed, with no bag limits, but illegal to take Snapper home because they are an endangered species. Time will tell. Does anyone want GPS mark for where we caught the GIant Herring? Just PM me

Scalem

[Deiter]

Some do gooder always has to tramp out the "Why did you take it" line. Here's a site you might be better off inspecting.

www.greenpeace.com.au/

[Matthias]

Deiter- My line was more of "why take if you can't identify it." That is a little different don't you think? Nice attitude though, good to see the right wing is still flappin.

Pete.

[84mick]

Some do gooder always has to tramp out the "Why did you take it" line. Here's a site you might be better off inspecting.

www.greenpeace.com.au/

lol.

Mick.

[vertico]

they arent tarpon , some kind of herring

[Greg P]

Deiter - I have no problems with anyone taking anything home for a feed if its legal - what you do is up to you - obviously. I also don't consider myself a "do gooder" as you suggest but if that means doing the right thing and not taking something home in the fishbox if I don't know what it is, then I am happy to wear that cap as I am sure the majority of responsible fishos would be. I actually consider this type of thing on a par with taking undersize/over bag limits catches. There are no excuses.

By the same token as your post - There will always be cowboys who struggle to get a feed and subsequently justify in their owns minds that taking everything that hits the deck is OK


Cheers

Greg

[Scalem]

Deiter - I have no problems with anyone taking anything home for a feed if its legal - what you do is up to you - obviously. I also don't consider myself a "do gooder" as you suggest but if that means doing the right thing and not taking something home in the fishbox if I don't know what it is, then I am happy to wear that cap as I am sure the majority of responsible fishos would be. I actually consider this type of thing on a par with taking undersize/over bag limits catches. There are no excuses.

By the same token as your post - There will always be cowboys who struggle to get a feed and subsequently justify in their owns minds that taking everything that hits the deck is OK


Cheers

Greg

Greg, you must be part bull terrier, you've made your point, Poodroo and I have both stated we won't be taking these home again, so if you are referring to "Cowboys" generally, I won't take it personally. You can't be talking about us, we are not struggling to take a feed home that's for sure.

But if you want a formal appology, I'll put it in writing. There!! Satisfied??

Happy days!!

Scalem

[Greg P]

Scalem - I don't want, need or have asked for an apology. The cowboy reference was a generalization not directed to you. I accept that it was just a mistake and not your normal MO but if this post makes someone think twice about taking a fish they cant identify then it will serve as a positive influence.

It all good

Cheers

Greg

[Poodroo]

Well IMO this is what it is all about. We are all here to learn from one another. Inevitably there will be a time in everyone's fishing history where a fish or situation will stump them a little. We were faced by one of these situations and had many thoughts which included that if we were to take the fish home that we'd be faced with either a bad tasting or a good tasting fish. If we decided to release them and come home and then found out we released the best eating fish of a lifetime then we'd have kicked ourselves too. The one thing that has come of this is that most importantly we have learned from a mistake, and we have learned about a species that is not good to bring home and at least we know what they are. Now also important is that anyone who is a bit of a novice who reads this thread will also know what these fish are and will spare them by releasing them. They are GIANT HERRING everyone or affectionatley known to Scalem's cats as PEANUT BUTTER FISH.

Poodroo

[Scalem]

Scalem - I don't want, need or have asked for an apology. The cowboy reference was a generalization not directed to you. I accept that it was just a mistake and not your normal MO but if this post makes someone think twice about taking a fish they cant identify then it will serve as a positive influence.

It all good

Cheers

Greg

No worries Greg, that's the good thing about AF, we all know now about these fish - and they are out there if anyone wants to lock horns with one or two, they are good sport. I know many people enjoy catching Saratoga for the same reasons. Taste like crap, but don't they put on a show!!

Cheers
Scalem