Fishin' Jersey Style

[Circle Hooked]

Fish are very strange creatures and yet we eat them  

It was a very brave or hungry man who ate the first lobster.

[Capt. Bill]

So, what is it in their genes that causes fluke/flounder to be born with one eye on each side of the head, then the one eye migrate over to the other side?

And why do all grouper end up female?

Got me...

Black Sea Bass also switch, but they are all born female and switch to male.

[RickK]

We have several Marine Biologist members that can answer.

[MarshMarlowe196]

So, what is it in their genes that causes fluke/flounder to be born with one eye on each side of the head, then the one eye migrate over to the other side?

And why do all grouper end up female?

Ok, first off, I didn't know the answer to this question until yesterday when I watched a special about this on Animal Planet.  I haven't been walking around with this info for years     But, to answer this-

Groupers, which are a family of fish called Serranidae, which Sea Bass(es) also belong to, all start their lives out as females, but have in their bodies the ability to produce male hormones (similar to testosterone in human males).  Another fish that has this ability is the Wrasse.  

Not all Groupers/Sea Bass are females (obviously).  One of the females turns to male because of environmental factors (usually a lack of a dominant male).  When it turns to male, it becomes territorial, sometimes changes color,fends off other males, farts, drinks and cusses, and sometimes grows larger than it would as a female.  This male Grouper keeps a Harem of female Groupers and sexes them up until it dies a very happy male Grouper.  At this point, the largest female in the widowed Harem turns into a male and starts the process over.  The majority of groupers will be polygamist females their whole lives.

I tried to look up why flounder metamorph their eyes, but apparently no-one really knows for sure.  

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... x/abstract

[seabob4]

I tried to look up why flounder metamorph their eyes, but apparently no-one really knows for sure.  

Because they can?

[John Jones]

It was a very brave or hungry man who ate the first lobster.

What about the first guy to drink milk?
Who decided to eat those round things that comes out of a chicken's butt?  

[Capt. Bill]

How about the first person to eat these...The Elusvie Northern Puffer...AKA Blowfish.

The bay up here is infested with them. Drop and reel fishing for 5 straight hours, most of them went back but these were Monday's dinner. The snappers are going to be this weekend fluke bait.  Big fluke love snapper blues.

[gran398]

Bill, those are bigguns! Never tried them, but some folks down here rave about them...do they really taste like chicken?

[Capt. Bill]

Bill, those are bigguns! Never tried them, but some folks down here rave about them...do they really taste like chicken?

Depends how you cook them. I filleted these, rolled them in sesame oil, coated them with panko crumbs, and deep frird them. They come out golden brown and look and taste like fish sticks. I also wrap them in bacon and broil, or make a scampy sauce, than they taste like scallops.

[Capt. Bill]

But I commend you, Bill.... I love the photo of the Striper - one of my favorites... and can't wait to see some Fall pictures of the Blues when they show up in your area... I think they get back up in your area in the Fall.  Do you fish for Blues, Bill?  I like 'em. They're G-U-D Good !!

Thanks for sharing your photos, hopefully next week I will contribute a few halibut photos to the flatfish menagerie....

Cheeeeeers, T

Hey T -  This Ones For You    

Got into the fall slammers this weekend.  Went 12 for 16 on them on Sunday, and my arms still hurt  :)

[Circle Hooked]

Nice  

[Capt Matt]

Caught what I thought was a flounder while cut bait fishing for redfish on a trip the other day, 21 inches and no markings looked just like the ones in the picture, think it was a Fluke? maybe a Dover sole
Capt matt

[T Race]

But I commend you, Bill.... I love the photo of the Striper - one of my favorites... and can't wait to see some Fall pictures of the Blues when they show up in your area... I think they get back up in your area in the Fall.  Do you fish for Blues, Bill?  I like 'em. They're G-U-D Good !!

Thanks for sharing your photos, hopefully next week I will contribute a few halibut photos to the flatfish menagerie....

Cheeeeeers, T

Hey T -  This Ones For You    

Got into the fall slammers this weekend.  Went 12 for 16 on them on Sunday, and my arms still hurt  :)

HOLY SCHNIECKIES, CPT BILL  ! ! ! ! !    What is your ADDRESS, my new bestest friend in the whole wide world?!?!

That is something to see.  What does that bad boy weigh?   Man, pound for pound, those Blues are true ass kickers.  Do you eat them?  I LOVED them when I caught them in Port Canaveral, FL.  But they were minnows compared to that great gargantuan godzilla of a fish you have there - for me, a big one was 6 or 7 pounds.

How do you prepare it?  are they strong fishy fish when they're that big?  


Man, thanks for sharing, Cpt. Bill...  you made my day  :sunny:   Cheers, Trace

[Capt. Bill]

T - this one was the biggest for the day weighed a tad under 12 pounds and was 34 inches long.  I needed one for a seson long tournament I'm in but don't think he'll place. I weighted a larger one last year and didn't make the money.

When they're that big they are terrible table fare, this one will become fish cakes, it's the only way I'll eat them.  

Cpt. Matt,

Hard to say without seeing it. There are so many flatfish species who knows. Generally,  fluke don't venture that far south, but that's what the experts say. I don't believe they actually ask the fish      

[Capt. Bill]

Hey T,

A couple more from the right coast.....  :)  :)  :)

The fall bass fishing has just started, we went one for four on the bass on Tuesday. The one in the pick wieghs 25 1/2  pounds. We broke off one, 40 lb test snapped like tread, lost one at the boat, and pulled the hook on a third. Then the biggest bunker pod I have ever seen showed up. It was 300 yards across and 1 1/2 miles long. Gator Blues were slammin' the bunker and it was absolute chaos on board. We probably hooked up with 50 or 60 but only landed a dozen. The one in the pic wieghs 8 1/2 pounds. Looks like a lure in the pic next to the bass.

The cooler they're laying on is a 96 quart. From the black line at the stripers gill to the one just before it's tail is 28 1/2 inches. 28" is legal here in Jersey and I make the lines a 1/2" long so there are no mistakes.

Going to be at it again tomorrow and Sunday, only 2 more weeks before I pull the boat for the winter  :cry:  :cry:  :cry: and I have to make the most of it.