Have not seen these before. Fish ID?

[whykickacatalong]

Came across a patch of these the other day in about 15mts of water, North coast NSW. No idea what they are and have been through my Sea fishes of Australia book which is pretty good at identifying our coastal fish with no luck. Any info would be appreciated to satisfy the curiosity. They looked tasty but all went back

No-I-dear.jpg

[Jsmfun]

Looks. Like a deep water fish

[Peter4]

Looks like a bullseye to me...

[Aussie123]

It's a Red Bullseye
Very common along the NSW inshore reefs

[whykickacatalong]

Thanks guys. That pointed me in the right direction with a Redeye search which ended up on the NSW DPI site as a Longfin Bigeye. Strange that we have not come across these before in all the years I have fished that patch. Cheers

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/ass...57/Bigeyes.pdf

[Dignity]

I remember we used to catch them off Redcliffe jetty at night when chasing bream and tailor 30 years ago, not the best tasting fish, flesh soft and mushy like.

[whykickacatalong]

Just as well we put em back then. Snapper were better on the chew then.

[chris69]

Yer ive gotten one in ningi creek a few chilly winters ago may be 10years and they catch them trawlering in the deep water chaseing king prawns but thats a big one.