26. Giant Groper also Eastern Blue Groper

Coastal specimen, far Cape York, Queensland

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