Strange looking fish

Dave · July 13, 2007, 10:11:25 CET

Does anyone know what kind of fish this is? Caught about 5 miles out of Portomaso near a drifting pallet.
Rgs

Dave

Granitu · July 13, 2007, 11:45:40 CET

duhh these days. that is surely a nice looking fish seems like it is a tropical fish

kempy · July 13, 2007, 18:43:36 CET

wow never seen any thing like thats its very nice i will ask around and my be find a name for your littl;e friend

skip · July 13, 2007, 18:52:49 CET

I wouldn't be surprised if that didnt come from outside of the Med. So many species are being introduced after they get stuck in the ballast wells of large tankers who pump in water at their origin and pump out along the way.

I'd be surprised if Fisheries Dept. would help as they like to shy away from acknowledging the above problem of non-native species coming in tankers!

What were you trolling dave, and how big isi t?

busumark · July 13, 2007, 23:18:27 CET

it is a lesser amberjack (cervjola tal-faxxi) if you have the book fishes of maltese waters by stanley farrugia randon and rio sammut you can read about it in page 98

fava · April 18, 2008, 11:47:39 CET

nice information busumark.... skip maybe right too....

large tankers may have pumped in the fish, and just before arriving close to Malta they release 'it'..

nice catch Dave

bmamo · May 09, 2008, 15:46:06 CET

how big is that?

skip · May 09, 2008, 21:13:56 CET

I don't believe it was that big, std cervjola size 400-500g I would imagine

DJS · October 20, 2008, 22:07:19 CET

On Saturday, the cervjola I was reeling in managed wrap itself around a FAD. When I lifted up the float I found this strange looking small fish which had attached itself sideways to the bottom side of the polystyrene float.

The skin of the fish was dark grey with bright blue coloured spots and had the texture of coarse sandpaper. Looks more like something that you would find in a tropical fish aquarium. Does anyone have any idea what sort of fish this is?

http://maltafishingforum.com/talk/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=1934

ciappinu · October 21, 2008, 09:17:56 CET

That is called a Hmar in Maltese. Trigger Fish. There seem to have been an invasion of these fish this year. I personally caught quite a few last Friday from the Tuna Fish Farms in St. Pauls Bay. I suspect that the decrease in pelagics this year has led to more of these fish surviving.

DJS · October 21, 2008, 17:35:02 CET

Ciappinu, thanks for identifying that its a Trigger Fish. I've never seen one before, you've solved a mystery for me!