Nice trout!!! and to the Faulkner's it is commonly known as a Blue Spotted Coral Trout or a Chinese Footballer, they reportedly grow to 25kgs, but who knows in New Caledonia?? There is a Queensland fisheries pamphlet on identifying coral trouts, similar to what we have here on identifying nor-west snappers. I don't know whether anybody has caught them in the Pilbara, but the only place I've seen them in WA is the Rowley Shoals.
I assume this is the link you mean Steve? The guide says the bluespots are the only species with non-transparent pectoral fins, but the above fish looks a bit different (if you look at the dorsal fin shape and the pectoral fin shape). Maybe its a different species of coral trout (or maybe a variant)? The guide is for QLD, so seems quite possible other species exist elsewhere of course, though they way they write it makes it sound like they mean "at all" as opposed to "in QLD".
Some monster trout either way though. Do they go pretty hard? (the small trout i've caught seem to pull pretty well for their size)
Hlokk, the fish I am holding is a 15.3kg trout that was caught in N.C, it did not raise any eyebrows from the skipper or the deckie, I myself, was floored!! Apparently nothing out of the ordinary!! I caught a few others around the 11kg mark. Once getting home I set out identifying exactly what species they were. Being able to scan right in on some my pics, that was the species I came up with, their fins were non transparent and there was no other trout that had the "tiger stripes" that would fit the description, and would grow to that proportion. In terms of fighting ability I'm possibly opening myself up to some criticism, but I don't think they put up that much of a show when using 100lb braid on Dogfights and fairly good GT rods whilst running 15kgs of drag. I say this because they are only a by-catch when trying to catch big GT's and once hooked in 2 meters of water the G's are a much more worthy adversary, if using light tackle though, the trout would win hands down every time.
I know from other forums that Kasey is a lot more experienced than me in regards to fishing N.C, so I would be interested to hear his take on the species I.D, and Kasey, if you have pics of much larger trout can you please post them as I'm sure they would get a fairly good response.
I thought I was opening myself up to a whole load of abuse, fighting a bucket of water (pulled backwards fast in a boat) is probably the best way to describe it !!!
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18032
Date Joined: 11/03/08
great size trout, different
great size trout, different sort of colors tho. do they vary from area to area
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Man Overboard
Posts: 957
Date Joined: 16/01/10
That is a serious trout,
That is a serious trout, my favourite species when up north.
Top stuff !
Andy Mac
Posts: 4778
Date Joined: 03/02/06
Tasty Beast
C&R though I assume.
Cheers
Andy Mac (Fishwrecked Reeltime Editor & Forum Moderator)
Youngest member of the Fishwrecked Old Farts Club
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
pop trout!
Descent Trout there Brad, fishy water in the background =)
Kelvin8r
Posts: 475
Date Joined: 12/08/08
nice work bro. ripper trout
nice work bro. ripper trout that bugger!
Craig Pearse
Posts: 452
Date Joined: 04/01/09
I bet that didnt go back ,
I bet that didnt go back , Yummmmmmmm
Nice 1 brad
Aaron FNQ
Posts: 24
Date Joined: 27/12/09
great fish. great photo
great fish. great photo
Kasey L.
Posts: 1390
Date Joined: 02/03/06
That's only a baby by NewCal
That's only a baby by NewCal standards!
Unfortunately, ciguaterra kicks in at that size.
barneyboy
Posts: 1392
Date Joined: 08/01/09
bet ya
that went hard!!!
FEEEISH ONNN!!!
PilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
kasey is right this isnt a
kasey is right this isnt a big trout by NC standards, yes it did go back. Much more satisfying to see a fish this size swim off again
soupster51
Posts: 2724
Date Joined: 29/11/06
Trout
Great fish Brad and top photo. I'm still waiting for a chance at my first one here in Micro. Soon.....
The best reason for doing what's right today is tomorrow.
PilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
im comming there next mate,
im comming there next mate, you better get ready
STEVE231
Posts: 1443
Date Joined: 05/01/10
Coral trout
Nice trout!!! and to the Faulkner's it is commonly known as a Blue Spotted Coral Trout or a Chinese Footballer, they reportedly grow to 25kgs, but who knows in New Caledonia?? There is a Queensland fisheries pamphlet on identifying coral trouts, similar to what we have here on identifying nor-west snappers. I don't know whether anybody has caught them in the Pilbara, but the only place I've seen them in WA is the Rowley Shoals.
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
I assume this is the link
I assume this is the link you mean Steve? The guide says the bluespots are the only species with non-transparent pectoral fins, but the above fish looks a bit different (if you look at the dorsal fin shape and the pectoral fin shape). Maybe its a different species of coral trout (or maybe a variant)? The guide is for QLD, so seems quite possible other species exist elsewhere of course, though they way they write it makes it sound like they mean "at all" as opposed to "in QLD".
Some monster trout either way though. Do they go pretty hard? (the small trout i've caught seem to pull pretty well for their size)
Swamp
Posts: 121
Date Joined: 10/03/09
I got a baby one in the
I got a baby one in the Dampier Archipelago
Cheers,
Swamp
Kasey L.
Posts: 1390
Date Joined: 02/03/06
Steve, A 25kg Coral Trout is
Steve,
A 25kg Coral Trout is uncommon in NC, but not a rarity. I can confirm they grow much, much bigger.
STEVE231
Posts: 1443
Date Joined: 05/01/10
Coral Trout
Hlokk, the fish I am holding is a 15.3kg trout that was caught in N.C, it did not raise any eyebrows from the skipper or the deckie, I myself, was floored!! Apparently nothing out of the ordinary!! I caught a few others around the 11kg mark. Once getting home I set out identifying exactly what species they were. Being able to scan right in on some my pics, that was the species I came up with, their fins were non transparent and there was no other trout that had the "tiger stripes" that would fit the description, and would grow to that proportion. In terms of fighting ability I'm possibly opening myself up to some criticism, but I don't think they put up that much of a show when using 100lb braid on Dogfights and fairly good GT rods whilst running 15kgs of drag. I say this because they are only a by-catch when trying to catch big GT's and once hooked in 2 meters of water the G's are a much more worthy adversary, if using light tackle though, the trout would win hands down every time.
I know from other forums that Kasey is a lot more experienced than me in regards to fishing N.C, so I would be interested to hear his take on the species I.D, and Kasey, if you have pics of much larger trout can you please post them as I'm sure they would get a fairly good response.
PilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
agree with you steve, they
agree with you steve, they fight like a bucket of water on quality GT gear
mine was around 10-11kg and came straight in on PE12, perhaps on PE4 gear things might have been a little different
STEVE231
Posts: 1443
Date Joined: 05/01/10
Thank god!!!
I thought I was opening myself up to a whole load of abuse, fighting a bucket of water (pulled backwards fast in a boat) is probably the best way to describe it !!!
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
I think Brads trout is
I think Brads trout is definitely a blue spot coral trout.
Kasey L.
Posts: 1390
Date Joined: 02/03/06
Hi Steve, These are Oceanic
Hi Steve,
These are Oceanic Coral Trout, or 'Blue-Spot Trout' (Plectropmus laevis). I only discovered from the brochure that they are called Chinese Footballer as well - I always thought those were only yellow and white. http://www.reef.crc.org.au/publications/brochures/documents/CoralTroutFlyer_000.pdf
Anyway, sorry to deviate from Brad's post but as to how big they grow to... you're guess is as good as mine. This is the biggest trout I've ever seen:
Lucky Tim
Posts: 2536
Date Joined: 28/11/07
imagine sticking your head
imagine sticking your head under a ledge and seeing that horse looking back at you
Kasey L.
Posts: 1390
Date Joined: 02/03/06
bloody big ledge!
bloody big ledge!
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
I was looking for that
I was looking for that picture. Jewell reef I'm pretty sure, and 30kg.
STEVE231
Posts: 1443
Date Joined: 05/01/10
Serious Coral Trout
Man, that thing is a hooter!! Any idea of whether it was jigged or popped? I'm sure it would have pulled a bit better than a bucket of water...