Moreton Bay Barred javelin

[flattyfan4573]

Fellow fishers

A fish that's certainly had my attention for a long time has been the humble barred javelin. Having only recently acquired a tinny less than 2 years ago i'd never caught a legal one. This changed earlier in the year flicking lures around mud island. I hooked a nice one off the bottom (pics attached) and am pretty stoked about catching one locally over 60cm.

I've not since been able to catch another even though trying whenever the weather allows. As always the case in fishing it leads to many questions, but moreso makes me hungrier to find them. I'm interested to see what others experience has been with these awesome fish, particularly in Moreton Bay (MB). Feel free to add whatever comes to mind when you think of them, biggest one youve caught, if you think theyre always around in MB in some form, if theres seasons. Not sure if it's just me but they seem to be popping up regularly (more regularly locally? or am i just noticing them) in my social media feeds, ppl asking for fish ids, some youtube clips even more recently. 

Totally understand if some dont want to share, either, but hope you like the pics....they are cool as.

 

[Andrew_P]

Hi @flattyfan4573 that is a wonderful fish! I also seem to hear about these fish being caught in MB more than say 5 years ago. I wonder if the environment (floods/warmer temperatures/changes in current strength from back to back to back La Ninas) have anything to do with it? Or are they filling a niche that historically other more common MB fish have left open (i.e. snapper?). Could be a combination of both.

Either way i am stoked they are here in numbers. They look cool, fight hard and taste good! (so i have heard)

BTW I think you should change your username to "GrunterHunter4573"

Andrew

[ellicat]

Nice fish ! Would have put up a great fight.

I caught my first one at 36cm a couple of weeks ago at Harry's that went pretty hard for its size. I've been seeing quite a few being reported on Facebook too.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Nice fish! I've caught one about that size in the Brisbane River plus a few smaller models on dead flesh baits and seen a few smaller ones caught periodically on livies normally. Usually in the warmer months.  

I've also heard live prawns are a good bait. 

[mangajack]

For me I get up to about 10 of these fish a year in SEQ.

I am not sure if they are more numerous now or our techniques and lures have changed that is enticing more bites.

II regularly caught smaller models in the 80's in Bribie Passage....usually on small live baits.

These days I catch larger models on soft plastics off Redcliffe, at the Port and in the Pine River usually.....mostly around the 60cm mark.....I think the presentation is the key to not catching many or any small ones these days.

[Old Scaley]

Grunter seem to school up at certain times of the year in different places. I used to take an annual break at Burrum Heads in January and the run was either on the week before or the week after but occasionally I would be there at the right time and there would be heaps of boats lining up to catch good numbers of 50cm+ fish. Great eating.