Stella Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 I found this while spotlighting in an estuary near Cape Reinga this week Looks like some kind of benthic lie-and-wait predator. They were very fast, and inclined to dash off in directions that my freshwater natives don't usually dash off in. Took a while to catch one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 common stargazer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 possibly Crapatalus novaezelandiae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 what he said Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted August 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 OMG "Crapatalus"?! BEST NAME EVER!! I am so happy I found this fish! :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :slfg: :sml1: :cofn: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 what else did you find? Not heard much on the spotlighting front from you even though you have all the time in the world atm :digH: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinefish4life Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 mung fish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 mung fish? are you on an I-phone? its MONK fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted August 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 what else did you find? Not heard much on the spotlighting front from you even though you have all the time in the world atm :digH: I humbly beg for forgiveness :oops: At the estuary I also saw some small shortfins, little mullet and something wrassy. To be honest the weather and/or campsite has not been conducive to spotlighting. HOWEVER I also have some really good common bully photos to upload from last night's spotlighting, and Mon/Tues/Wed I will be going out mudfishing with Northland's native fish guru! :happy1: Have also been researching lots and getting bits written on my book. Do you want updates or do you want book? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 just to freak you out and make you never wade barefoot again, this is what it looks like when its on the bottom waiting for a feed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 BOTH speaking of mullet, my last two surviving grey mullet fry have finally decided that frozen blood worms, beef heart and discus granules are worth eating - I suspect that they will pack on the condition now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinefish4life Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 mung fish? are you on an I-phone? its MONK fish Oh oops :oops: :slfg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 possibly Crapatalus novaezelandiae My god...That's really the name...I checked. :slfg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted August 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 just to freak you out and make you never wade barefoot again, this is what it looks like when its on the bottom waiting for a feed OMG so glad I was fishing from a nice safe boardwalk! Admittedly I touched it as little as possible for fear of poison spines or something nasty. (people wade barefoot?! Water here is COLD!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 nah they ok, when you feel something wriggle under your feet in the surf, most ppl think they are flounder but more likely they are these guys. a 20cm one would do some nice fillets tho. to scare you even more, they do travel upriver and can sometimes be found in freshwater Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinefish4life Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 When my dad dives he sneaks behind them and grabs them :slfg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted August 6, 2012 Report Share Posted August 6, 2012 They taste alright,can be a bit "muddy", but the flesh is delicate, and tastes pretty damn good on the BBQ flapping around in some butter... god dammit, I'm hungry... :slfg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somethin fishy Posted August 6, 2012 Report Share Posted August 6, 2012 Don't the Aussies call them something else? I think they eat them too? On a clean-up dive in Frank Kitts lagoon in Wellington I grabbed one thinking it was a piece of rubbish... Gave me a little fright! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted August 6, 2012 Report Share Posted August 6, 2012 Aussies call them flatheads, but i dont think it is the same fish. They love to eat'em though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted August 6, 2012 Report Share Posted August 6, 2012 flat heads are different, closer related to the lizard fish or grinners. hunt in the same way though. just out of interest they are worth approx $4million to our fisheries per year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishplants Posted August 9, 2012 Report Share Posted August 9, 2012 We would always catch them at the mouth of the Waimak (Canterbury) when spinning for salmon. We would (accidentally) foul hook them but they would also take the spinner when retrieved close to the bottom, testament to their ambush skills and diet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89crwreck Posted August 13, 2012 Report Share Posted August 13, 2012 just seen this pic on 9gag, reminded me of that fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted August 13, 2012 Report Share Posted August 13, 2012 That's a yodawg grouper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89crwreck Posted August 13, 2012 Report Share Posted August 13, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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