Small Dhu's
Been out a couple times over the break and did notice the increased number of undersized dhus.
These ranges from as small as 25cm right upto 50cm. with probably a dozen or so caught.
Funny thing is they are quite deep in the 40-50m ranges (Which i thought smaller fish may have stuck around shallower depths.)
Hit 2 rocks 2 days before new years, and picked up 9 dhu's with only 1 being sized at about 5-6kgs.
Did however manage 4 ripper Black bums, 3 of them well over 600mm in length and estimated at 4kgs.
Many small pinky's about as well in the 30's
Good to see so many smaller fish around. we released 1 fish on a release weight due to a blown up gut, but rest went back no worries by them selves.
Im led to believe that smaller fish seem to be more reziliant to blown up bladders. Am i the only one who notices this?
Cheers
Bodie.
PS: no pics because it was pretty rough the days we got out.
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
Been diving a bit all over
Been diving a bit all over the place recently and have been lucky enough to see dhus on nearly every dive. On Christmas eve out of Mindarie, I saw a small one 8" or so and wanted to see how close I could get to him and I slowly reached out to touch it and the sucker bit me! LOL! Talk about daring!
18 Outrage, Johnson 140hp 4stroke and 190 Outrage, 150 Mercury Verado
Tim
Posts: 2497
Date Joined: 26/09/06
Nice
It sounds like you've had some fun over the break Bodie so well done on getting out and getting some fish.
Not sure about small ones only being in shallow. Ive caught plenty of undersize ones out in 90m of water.
As for the smaller ones going down easier it may look that way but one of the things that can happen is that they get half way down and tire out then float back up. By then you have drifted away or the current has taken them away and they cant be seen so they just float off. Other times they will go down on their own.
Only way to be sure they get back down is to use a release weight all the time.
** Rockingham Offshore Fishing Club **
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
yep get what you mean
yep get what you mean Tim.
The ones released were out of sight once they hit the water in a flash. None of them had any swim bladder issues they we could see, and even touching their stomachs they were not hard or blown up like they normally are.
And one of the crazy things was we drifted over a lump and picked up a healthy looking dhu around 44cms long. popped him back in without a release weight, and continued drifting for a bit more. Up anchored and went for 1 more drift over the same lump, and after a couple mins my mate was on. Up came another dhu around the same size..
After a bit of a look we could see a second hook hole in the side of the jaw... measured him at 44cm.... it was the same dam fish!!!! caugth twice in 5 or so minutes.... Musta been a hungry little sucker!
Tim
Posts: 2497
Date Joined: 26/09/06
Good stuff
Good stuff.
Sounds like they came up nice and slow. When they swim off like that you would think they would get back down OK.
** Rockingham Offshore Fishing Club **
Blackbetty-50
Posts: 96
Date Joined: 17/08/07
Small Dhu's
It's good to see juvenile dhufish around, it's all well for the future of the species.
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18018
Date Joined: 11/03/08
we have caught several small
we have caught several small dhus in the 40s and would have gone down well on there own but on the odd time a weight is used to be on the safe side
RUSS & SANDY
"A family that fishes together stays together"
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Blackbetty-50
Posts: 96
Date Joined: 17/08/07
Biting fish
8" long and biting, isn't 8" pan size when they attack you ?? ha! ha! spirited little chap.
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
I think I was more shocked
I think I was more shocked at finding a 8" dhu attached to my gloved finger!
18 Outrage, Johnson 140hp 4stroke and 190 Outrage, 150 Mercury Verado
bluebagger
Posts: 155
Date Joined: 21/10/08
Yeah Bodie
I reckon the smaller ones seem to swim away quite strong. What Tim said makes sense, should use the release weight.
Bluebagger
Peter Mac
Posts: 59
Date Joined: 05/01/09
Release Weights
I will be sure to get one of these and learn up on them - broke the Mrs's heart to see the little dhuie she caught float back to the top...
Cheers,
P
silly
Posts: 382
Date Joined: 02/01/09
dhu
caught a 40cm one out behind little island in 14m of water on friday.
i thought he was rather lifeless when i he was on board but i swum him and the bugger bit down and i saw him reach the bottom......luckly it was only 14m
good to see the little ones are around in all depths
harro
Posts: 1959
Date Joined: 07/02/08
how old
does any1 know how old a 25cm dhuie is.. i would like to know
cheers guys
:::: Bass Hunter ::::
H.S. Chan
Posts: 587
Date Joined: 04/01/09
Sounds like awesome fun.
Sounds like awesome fun. Gotta try boat fishing for once. Least you didnt go to shore empty handed. What time of the day or night were you out there?
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
left home at 4am and arrived
left home at 4am and arrived at two rocks at about 5.20am
came back in around 1pm, but the whole day the winds were up 15+ knots from the south with a 2m swell... but was ok only 1 person got sea sick!!!
On a role now with making people sick on the boat :) 3 in 3 trips!!!!
H.S. Chan
Posts: 587
Date Joined: 04/01/09
sikk! Lol, i bet i'd be
sikk! Lol, i bet i'd be yakkin everywhere without the pills.
poddyfish
Posts: 986
Date Joined: 01/05/07
small dhuies
it sure is fantastic to hear of all the juve dhufish around and it sounds like they are right up and down the coast! hopefully its signs of a healthy fisherie for us all provided we continue to do the righty and look after it! we also got a few small dhu last trip and they where only small 25-35cms jobbies.... aint they a gorgious fish at that size! oh all released well with release weight except the one the mako got! spewing
Cheers Poddy
Fear The Spear............!
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
Smallies in Geographe Bay
Spent the chrissy news years period down in busselton and did a bit of fishing out in Geographe Bay and around Cape Naturaliste. I must say i too was getting a fair few undersized dhui's brought up onto the boat. For the time i was down there we landed and released(with the aid of a release weight) 5 undersized dhui's all around 42-49cm. We did manage to get a couple of legal sizers with my mates son getting one going around the 15kg mark. Wind played havoc down there for most of the time so got stuck fishing the 4-mile reef most days, still can't complain, always got a feed of skippy.
dagree
Posts: 660
Date Joined: 08/12/07
Hope wind dies and the released grow
by first week in February as we are going down there on the 1st for two weeks.
Cheers,
David
Cheers,
David (AKA Grumps)
Location: Heathridge. Toys: 120 Series Prado ... 5.3 Stacer Seamaster/Merc 90HP.
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
IF YOU ARE HEADED DOWN THAT
IF YOU ARE HEADED DOWN THAT WAY CROSS YOUR FINGERS TO GET SOME NICE EASTERLYS AND LOW SWELLS BEACUSE SOME OF MY MATES DOWN THERE HAVE BEEN DOING GREAT ON DHUI'S OUT ON THE WEST COAST. OUT FROM CANAL ROCKS, GRACETOWN AND GNARABUP, AND THEY ARE ONLY IN LARGEISH TINNIES!. ONE WENT OUT YESTERDAY AND GOT 4 DHUIS IN THE 10-16KG RANGE OUT FROM GNARABUP.
Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
Funny Bodie as i went out
Funny Bodie as i went out that day and didn't see any small dhuies .Was getting a few three weeks back but the last two trips all been 580mm and up .
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Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
how far out were you? we
how far out were you?
we varied, started around 14 mile, then went out to 19 mile.
Lots of black bums. Small dhus most of the locations we tried.
In hine sight, i should have sounded some more lumps in the 14 mile region, as thats where we got more fish, but wanted to check some spots i had done well at before..... didnt get 1 fish from them!!
Was pretty messy on the water that day!
Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
Yer Bodie we were around
Yer Bodie we were around 12-14 mile,been doing ok around that area,that 19mile area runs hot and cold i have some ground out there that if its on its unreal ,but if not you get zip.
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