Surprise catch... a mid North Coast bonefish
by NSW DPI - Recreational Fisheries 9 Oct 2023 23:43 BST
North Coast angler Luke Giovanetti submitted this interesting catch to the Department © NSW DPI
North Coast angler Luke Giovanetti submitted this interesting catch to the Department!
This bonefish (Albula glossodonta) was recently caught in the Coffs Harbour region at the mouth of one of the local estuaries. Luke got quite a surprise when this fish ate a lure that was intended for a mulloway or flathead. The fish ripped off more than 100m of line on its initial run and took over half an hour to land. Despite the battle, the fish was released in good condition. On light tackle, this fish truly is a trophy catch!
Bonefish occur sporadically in northern and central Queensland and are widespread throughout the Indo Pacific region as far east as the Cook Islands. They inhabit inshore coastal waters and are most likely found across shallow sand and mud flats. They are easily identified due to their streamlined shape and bright silvery-white body. They also have an "underslung" jaw, which is perfectly designed for foraging around the flats.
Indo Pacific Bonefish are a popular sportfish, particularly for fly fishers who'll often travel to remote places like the Cook Islands or Kiribati to target them. They are renowned for being challenging to catch. Research suggests that they can obtain sizes up to 90cm and 8kg but are more commonly found around the 2kg mark. Historically, there have been reported catches as far south as Port Hacking, but they are considered rare anywhere south of Fraser Island.
Did you know Redmap is a 'citizen science' project that invites fishers and the community to share sightings of marine species that are 'uncommon' to their local seas. Over time, Redmap uses this 'citizen science' data to map which Australian marine species may be extending their distribution range in response to changes in the marine environment. For more information, please visit www.redmap.org.au