Live bait trap and legal size

[bigfatdud]

I bought a 'live bait trap' at big-W which describes it can be used to catch poddy mullet etc.

I search the web and

1. poddy mullet is just juvenile mullet -> so should be released since it's less than 30cm

2. poddy mullet is not sea mullet so can be kept

Which is true?

[elops]

sea mullet min size 30 cm diamond scale min 30 cm all other mullet species ok to use.

best to learn how to ID mullet.

[bigfatdud]

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/28_14918.htm

The above DPI site shows only two kinds (diamond scale and sea) of mullets, is there a nice fish id key for other mullet species?

Also I am not sure how different the juvenile and fingerling mullets of these two species are, and how easy it would be to tell from other mullet species...

TIA!

BFD

[bigfatdud]

Hmmm actually those two mullets (sea and diamond scale) have several different names:

sea mullet also called as

* bully mullet

* poddy mullet

* flathead mullet. (http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/28_14922.htm)

and diamond scale mullet also called as

* large-scaled mullet (http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/28_14918.htm)

[mick fillet]

where abouts are you thinking of collecting the from?

what river system?

[bigfatdud]

Hmmm, I was just thinking of throwing the trap by one of the jettys in Manly/Wynnum... I am new to fishing by the way...

[mick fillet]

bigfatdud wrote:

Hmmm, I was just thinking of throwing the trap by one of the jettys in Manly/Wynnum... I am new to fishing by the way...

oh ok.get your self a cast net there far more efficient for bait collection.dosnt take long to learn how to cast one and get it to open ether.

around wynum manly your probably might catch fantail and tiger mullet and yellow tail pike

[rosstralia46]

Use a cast net heaps better and easier I only use the trap i got from there for shrimp crayfish etc

cheers ross

[bigfatdud]

I live in a small unit and therefore is kinda reluctant to invest on cast net - perhaps too big and... smelly? I reckon it's not so easy to clean and store?

Anyhow thanks for all the replies!

[fishingnut]

can keep a cast net in a bucket not much bigger than a 4L ice cream bucket

[elops]

For ID keys Fishbase is the easiest to use. http://fishbase.org/search.php

type Mugilidae in the information by Family box then click on Identification keys