Swan River by catch - 6cm fish id

 Found this in the prawn net when cleaning up today.

Must have been in some weed.

They are spines on each side of the mouth.

 The skin has slime like a Red Scorpion Cod

Im thinking it might be in this Family of Fishes.

Common name: Family TETRAROGIDAE - Fortesques, Sailback Scorpionfishes, Wasp Fishes

https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/family/263

I have it frozen in a block of river water if it is of any interest to Glenn at WA Museum.

We got another 6 tonight but they all went back and they were all on clumps of weed on a run out tide.

 

 

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Chinbald's picture

Posts: 317

Date Joined: 21/02/09

Western Fortescue ?

Sun, 2024-06-09 10:43

Never seen one but matches the description in the sea fishes of Southern Australia ID book

Gezzza's picture

Posts: 15

Date Joined: 19/09/16

Didn't even check book

Mon, 2024-06-10 17:29

 Hi Chinbald

I also have that book and have thumbed through it for years but didn't even think to look in it on this occassion.

Cheers

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Faulkner Family's picture

Posts: 17995

Date Joined: 11/03/08

Nasty linking little focker .

Sun, 2024-06-09 11:45

Nasty linking little focker . What part of the river

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

Gezzza's picture

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Date Joined: 19/09/16

In the lower reaches of the Swan

Mon, 2024-06-10 17:22

Down river from Blackwall Reach.

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jighead's picture

Posts: 723

Date Joined: 03/02/12

.

Sun, 2024-06-09 14:05

Pretty sure that's what we called a devil fish. Got done a few times sorting the net back in the day. Very painfull.

Gezzza's picture

Posts: 15

Date Joined: 19/09/16

Devil fish

Mon, 2024-06-10 17:20

 Hi  Jighead

My understanding was the Devil fish is more like a 6cm Shovelnose ray in body shape and yes have heard painful.

My son got pricked by the Fortescue and said it felt hot and painful but not enough to stop prawning.

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Mark_M's picture

Posts: 171

Date Joined: 10/04/15

Fortesque

Sun, 2024-06-09 14:25
Gezzza's picture

Posts: 15

Date Joined: 19/09/16

Thanks for your help on the ID.

Mon, 2024-06-10 17:33

 Cheers

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Spicey's picture

Posts: 219

Date Joined: 17/01/11

Happy Moments

Tue, 2024-06-11 06:45

 We used to get them in the net on occasions and always called them Happy Moments, a bit tounge in cheek as they hurt if you coped a spike.