Resident at Beaver Cay (Mission Beach Qld).
EASTERN BLUE GROPER (NSW)
Eastern Blue Groper (NSW) in 1968
They got a bit spooky by about 1965, Bob. Val Taylor had written text for a proposed children's book that featured a Blue Groper. Ron and Val were both stuck for a picture - can you believe that? I was asked to contribute a shot and couldn't help. The first underwater torch I tried, the very first fish I saw in a cave - in 50 feet on scuba- at Marley Point, was a terrified blue groper. But yes, in the early days these were the main easy catch - fished to a low population point by the some of the people who later instigated the ban, the USFA of NSW. A scuba spearing ban followed. You know the story of the largest blue groper in a clan being the male? At Point Lookout QLD where no ban exists I saw a blue groper (a male) six inches in length. He was the largest in the area. That is a bit rough. (A blue should not turn blue until it reaches maturity at about 12 pounds). JHH |
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