North Australian FISH FINDER TM forums

Have you ever caught a golden snapper leaking milt/eggs? If so, was it deep or shallow reef?

Info might help identify spawning grounds that could be closed in season to protect breeders.

I've caught big fish leaking milt from South Gutter, from vague memory in October.

Was a good doco on TV about lutjanids that gather to spawn in one small area (somewhere overseas) in such numbers that it attracts whale sharks, which feed on the eggs.

We caught ours down the coast in close, 8 metres deep, early November neap tides

Never really targeted them , UNTIL NOW.

nly ever seen them at the Mouth of the South in about 8 meters of Water. That was a long time ago now though

This just in from Qld, food for thought ...

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Queensland Government - Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - New moon brings fishing closures

Coral reef fin fish will be off limits from midnight this Tuesday 1 October, as part of the first of two annual closures that protect these fish during spawning season.

Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol acting district manager Geoff Fergusson said the closures were vital to protect fish at an important time in their life cycle.

“Closed seasons are vital to allow stocks to replenish to ensure there are healthy fish stores for current and future generations of Queensland fishers.

"After an extensive scientific review, two five-day closures each year for five years were announced in October 2009 to provide certainty and long-term planning for fishers," he said.

“This year, the first closure will run from midnight 1 October to midnight 6 October and the second from midnight 30 October to midnight 4 November.

Mr Fergusson said the dates for the closures changed each year depending on the new moon phases.

"The closures coincide with the new moon when key coral reef fish species aggregate to spawn,” he said.

"October and November have been found to be months of high effectiveness for closures to protect coral reef fin fish, particularly the key target species.

"Tropical snapper and other coral reef fin fish may be more susceptible to concentrated fishing when spawning and these closures help ensure the sustainability of the fishery.

"Fishers need to remember that they should not take and possess coral reef fin fish species during the closure period.

“Coral reef fin fish include cods and groupers, emperors, parrotfishes, sweetlips, wrasses, coral trout, fusiliers, surgeonfishes, tropical snappers and seaperches.

“A reef fish web guide is available online at http://www.fisheries.qld.gov.au to help fishers identify fish listed as coral reef fin fish.

Mr Fergusson said the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol will be conducting regular patrols during the school holidays to remind fishers of the closures.

“Recreational fishers caught doing the wrong thing during the coral reef fin fish closure risk an on-the-spot fine of $440 and a maximum penalty of $110,000.”

The closures are in place from the northern tip of Cape York to Bundaberg in the south (the southern boundary is at latitude 24º50'S).

The eastern boundary of the closure is the same as the eastern boundary of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

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Caught them at Lorna in 9-13m of water. Jizz everywhere

Matt, do you remember the tides? Big or small?

I mainly see this during the build up months from most of the spots I fish,depths are between 10 and 20 mts.

You want the GPS points as well ??? Might get back to you on that,or not

February is a big breeding time at Lorna IMHO. October and early November as well. I think they tend to breed every where around these times.

Crikey, sounds like they breed everywhere, shallow and deep, from build-up to run-off

south would have been buildup as well

Got. Jew tonight jizzed everywhere in the kill tank .. Wide of Charles point !

cuddlescooper wrote:February is a big breeding time at Lorna IMHO. October and early November as well. I think they tend to breed every where around these times.

Just looked at my fish diary and I saw it in March

Not me personally have been there when my dad has. 2 of them from that little area in between mandorah and the charles.point lighthouse where that reef dries? think there is a coupla creeks along there to. Anyway they were in around 5 meters of water and both were released. I was only a silly teenager then and kicked.up a stink at the old.man about it, but now I definatly know why he put them both back. As for the time of the year.........NO Idea