Not for eating!
Went for a walk on suburban Shorncliffe Pier yesterday, easily the most popular fishing spot during the school holidays. This fish, which I would have called a Toadfish or Puffer Fish of some sort has been very hard to identify. Moreton Bay has Smooth Toadfish but this one is not only larger than the normal ones but obviously not smooth and did puff up while being taken off the hook (therefore the reference to Puffer Fish). It was extremely lucky as it got thrown back in but there were so many people fishing, if it hung about it may have been caught again numerous times. In my opinion, they would normally be left to die but with so many people about, no doubt everyone was doing the right thing. In some jurisdictions (don't know about Queensland) the law requires them to be returned to the sea.
As Toadfish are poisonous (even without those nasty looking spines) it is just as well this guy wrapped it in a towel before taking it off the hook.
If anyone can ID the fish I would be most obliged!
Not for eating!
Went for a walk on suburban Shorncliffe Pier yesterday, easily the most popular fishing spot during the school holidays. This fish, which I would have called a Toadfish or Puffer Fish of some sort has been very hard to identify. Moreton Bay has Smooth Toadfish but this one is not only larger than the normal ones but obviously not smooth and did puff up while being taken off the hook (therefore the reference to Puffer Fish). It was extremely lucky as it got thrown back in but there were so many people fishing, if it hung about it may have been caught again numerous times. In my opinion, they would normally be left to die but with so many people about, no doubt everyone was doing the right thing. In some jurisdictions (don't know about Queensland) the law requires them to be returned to the sea.
As Toadfish are poisonous (even without those nasty looking spines) it is just as well this guy wrapped it in a towel before taking it off the hook.
If anyone can ID the fish I would be most obliged!