Whats up with the bufferfly gurnard

If it doesn't fit in a specific saltwater section, post it here
Post Reply
smile0784
Rank: Premium Member
Rank: Premium Member
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:16 pm
Has liked: 39 times
Likes received: 356 times

Whats up with the bufferfly gurnard

Post by smile0784 » Mon Sep 04, 2017 9:14 pm

So just getting around to posting seeing if people know whats wrong with the gurnard.

We normally catch these at bermagui around 30 to 35cm long
2017-09-04 20.52.44.jpg
But i caught these ones for the first time ever in over 20 years fishing there.
With big nostrals, google eyes, pronounced head hard skull with spikes amd spikes on top and side fins 35 to 40cm long.
2017-09-04 20.59.41.jpg
2017-09-04 21.00.22.jpg
Are the ones i catch just juvenile and the mutated ones are just old parents ones?

Does anyone know?

Paulanderson
Rank: King George Whiting
Rank: King George Whiting
Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:18 pm
Has liked: 50 times
Likes received: 131 times

Re: Whats up with the bufferfly gurnard

Post by Paulanderson » Mon Sep 04, 2017 11:14 pm

I have caught plenty of these at Bermagui and they are not only normal looking but also good to eat. Just be very careful of the spikes when cleaning them. If you get spiked you will know all about it!

User avatar
re-tyred
Moderator
Moderator
Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 5:54 am
Location: Lakes Entrance
Has liked: 372 times
Likes received: 927 times

Re: Whats up with the bufferfly gurnard

Post by re-tyred » Tue Sep 05, 2017 5:23 am

These are the more common type. They are more box shaped and have more silver on their bodies. Called puff pastry by commercial trawlers.
They are latchet and another variety of the flying gurnard. The flying gurnard more commonly caught by anglers has more green and less silver on the body. They have rounder bodies. Both are excellent eating. Do not confuse them with bulleye gurnard (scorpion fish) that have poisonous slime on the spikes.
There's nothing . . . absolutely nothing . . . half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats.
Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows (River Rat to Mole)

User avatar
re-tyred
Moderator
Moderator
Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 5:54 am
Location: Lakes Entrance
Has liked: 372 times
Likes received: 927 times

Re: Whats up with the bufferfly gurnard

Post by re-tyred » Tue Sep 05, 2017 5:28 am

pics
Attachments
gurnard.jpg
gurnard.jpg (15.6 KiB) Viewed 1509 times
latchet.png
latchet.png (57.76 KiB) Viewed 1509 times
bulleye.jpg
bulleye.jpg (6.96 KiB) Viewed 1509 times
There's nothing . . . absolutely nothing . . . half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats.
Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows (River Rat to Mole)

User avatar
Kimtown
Rank: Premium Member
Rank: Premium Member
Joined: Tue Jul 04, 2017 9:29 pm
Has liked: 303 times
Likes received: 310 times

Re: Whats up with the bufferfly gurnard

Post by Kimtown » Tue Sep 05, 2017 7:56 am

Really only get the scorpion cod type of gurnard here in west Gippsland, have caught a few of the flying/butterfly ones around Lakes Entrance. Never bothered to keep them though, heard to many bad stories with their spikes so they got me all gun shy lol

smile0784
Rank: Premium Member
Rank: Premium Member
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:16 pm
Has liked: 39 times
Likes received: 356 times

Re: Whats up with the bufferfly gurnard

Post by smile0784 » Tue Sep 05, 2017 12:07 pm

Kimtown wrote:Really only get the scorpion cod type of gurnard here in west Gippsland, have caught a few of the flying/butterfly ones around Lakes Entrance. Never bothered to keep them though, heard to many bad stories with their spikes so they got me all gun shy lol

I was just thinking something. I never recall catching them at bermagui.
I normally flying gurnard dont have the spikes.
This is the first year i come accross the mutated ones with spikes.
99% of fish i get at bermagui i can use my fish dehooker on so i stay away from the spikes. I use to get hit by bit tiger flathead spikes so i learnt my lesson.

Skorpion fish dont even come in the boat.

User avatar
re-tyred
Moderator
Moderator
Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 5:54 am
Location: Lakes Entrance
Has liked: 372 times
Likes received: 927 times

Re: Whats up with the bufferfly gurnard

Post by re-tyred » Tue Sep 05, 2017 1:05 pm

Latchet and gurnard spines are no worse than flathead spines.. The one you caught are not mutated they are a different variety.. Same as you have different varieties of flathead.
There's nothing . . . absolutely nothing . . . half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats.
Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows (River Rat to Mole)

frozenpod
Rank: Premium Member
Rank: Premium Member
Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2012 2:04 pm
Has liked: 81 times
Likes received: 109 times

Re: Whats up with the bufferfly gurnard

Post by frozenpod » Tue Sep 05, 2017 1:24 pm

We have caught a few on the south east coast, they taste good and are easier to clean than Gurnard/Scorpion fish

Post Reply

Return to “General Salt Water Fishing”