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 Post subject: Female Groper?
PostPosted: 02 Jan 2013, 18:34 
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Before Xmas dived down at the island and saw what appeared to be a reddish fish about 30cm long in 2m depth didn't see the front of it as i was behind it but shape was comparable to a groper. As I tried to get closer it swam into those weeds that are like vines and disappeared. Got within 1.5m of it and it didn't look like a banded Morwong. It was a much thicker rounder bodied fish and its colour was solid no stripes or variable colours.

Any suggestions on what else it could have been and have you guys seen many female gropers on your trips?

Geoff

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 Post subject: Re: Female Groper?
PostPosted: 02 Jan 2013, 20:05 
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 Post subject: Re: Female Groper?
PostPosted: 02 Jan 2013, 20:15 
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You get western blue groper at the Island Ossk not eastern, western girls are green. Your pick is an eastern.

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 Post subject: Re: Female Groper?
PostPosted: 02 Jan 2013, 20:19 
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The females kinda look the same though...


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 Post subject: Re: Female Groper?
PostPosted: 02 Jan 2013, 20:26 
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I would of loved to have seen the face might have given me a better idea to what it was. I've seen plenty in books just never seen one under the water before. So I'm not sure what else could match my description.

Geoff

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 Post subject: Re: Female Groper?
PostPosted: 02 Jan 2013, 20:37 
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Hey Greg,

I wonder if the Easterns have made it to the island. I've got a book published in 1988 that says eastern blue groper distribution Hervey Bay Qld to Wilsons Prom Vic. 25yrs not to far a move to the island?

Geoff

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 Post subject: Re: Female Groper?
PostPosted: 02 Jan 2013, 21:33 
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ossk wrote:
The females kinda look the same though...

If your colourblind.

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 Post subject: Re: Female Groper?
PostPosted: 02 Jan 2013, 21:52 
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In defence to Ossk it could have been changing to a male it takes a few days sometimes weeks! ;)

Transition of colours :lol:

Geoff

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 Post subject: Re: Female Groper?
PostPosted: 02 Jan 2013, 22:37 
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I'll admit for a long time I didn't know the difference . I was told years ago when I was diving comps that they were "southern groper" I even managed to way a couple in but I now know they were western. I've never seen an eastern any closer than Cape Conran and I think they are pretty rare at the prom but someone may correct me on that.
I did my homework on the gropers when the bullshit laws came in about a year and a half ago.
I won't say for certain you didn't see one because I've seen a few fish turn up in odd spots over the years but the chances are pretty slim and they don't really look red, more an orangy brown kind of colour

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 Post subject: Re: Female Groper?
PostPosted: 03 Jan 2013, 00:14 
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To throw a spanner in the works!

Warning: Boring info below

-Western Blue Groper (Achoerodus gouldii)
Color: Juveniles grey to green, sometimes with yellowish or whitish spots scattered on back. Females grey to red. Males grey to blue.

Eastern blue groper (Achoerodus viridis)
Colour: juveniles grey with with several yellowish spots scattered on back. Females red to brown. Males grey to blue.

As you can see the color is almost identical red-red, grey-grey, blue-blue. Both species have the same body shape eg 32-41% body depth against there SL(standard length). So if colour and body shape are similar then how do you distinguish difference under water?

The only difference is the number of scales.

Western blue groper: Lateral line with 33-37 pored scales: scales above lateral line 7-7.5
Eastern blue groper: Lateral line with 41-45 pored scales: scales above lateral line 9-10.5

Some people might have their ways of telling the two species apart apart from the scales and I'm not saying their wrong and im not saying that what all experts say is the bible. But I tend to lean a 'little' bit towards the people that have spent most of their lifetime researching and then putting a together a 900pg book which defines key biological characteristics between species.

Just my two cents

Don't worry I'm confused as well. Anyway thank christ it wasnt a coral trout :shock: otherwise who knows how much more garbage I'd be writing. :lol: :lol: :lol:


Geoff

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