Fish Profiles

Saltwater Fish


Barracuda




Common Name: Barracuda
Other Names: Couta, Giant Pike
Scientific Name: Sphyraena Barracuda

Habitat: This species wonders between reefs. They occur in shoals, with the occasional solitary individual. Juveniles found on shallow flats.

Distribution: Indian Ocean, reefs

Bait: Barracuda eat a variety of fish. Large barracudas herd shoals of fish into shallow water where they then gorge themselves.

Fishing Strategy: The Great barracuda is the largest of the barracudas and is normally found in shoals, but loners can be found around reefs. The teeth of these fish are long and sharp which they use to tear into flesh so the use of a wire trace is essential.

Eating Quality: Barracuda are normally caught for the fight and then returned.

Tackle :
Wire trace is essential
10 - 16kg line
Sturdy Rod

Wahoo


Common Name: Wahoo
Other Names: Ono, Oahu fish, Pacific kingfish, Ocean barracuda
Scientific Name: Acanthocybium solandri

Habitat: Wahoo can be found near reefs where warm currents run close inshore.
Also found in the open ocean around bait fish.

Distribution: Found in various parts of the world

Bait: Wahoo feed on other fishes, as well as such as anchovies, small tuna and even squid.

Fishing Strategy: The Wahoo is a powerful gamefish which inhabits off shore coral or rocky reefs. Wahoo prey on fish, small tuna, kingfish and flying fish even squid. This powerful game fish is often targeted by fly fisherman, as it is one of those species can be teased to the surface using a hook.

Tackle:
Poppers and slammer can be used
Wire trace is a must
Trolling lures or live mullet
Strong rod

Planted Freshwater Fish Aquarium

This is my new hobbies.I try setting up a large tropical freshwater aquarium in my home.

As much as you want to have a nice, big, attractive freshwater aquarium, you only have a small budget with which to set it up. So it's time to settle for the alternative and go the least expensive route. You can try having a fish bowl, a round-shaped, small fish tank which is far cheaper than a standard-sized fish tank. The important thing that you should bear in mind is not to include too many fish in the fish bowl as this may tend to cause an imbalance in the environment for other fish species. The ideal number of fish pets is one or two per normal-sized fish bowl.

Building your own freshwater fish bowl is as easy as 1, 2, 3. You do not need lots of expensive equipment - you just need clean water, a small guppy and some pieces of ornamentation. You can utilize aquatic plants that live in freshwater aquariums to provide a balance in your tank. As long as you remember a few of the basics, you can set up your favorite fish bowl without the help of professionals. The first thing you need to do is decide where to position your fish bowl. In terms of positioning simply place it on the top of a small table or stand. There is certainly no need for a customized stand. Also, you can save on your home's monthly water costs as a fish bowl only uses approximately a gallon (or less) of clean water. You can also save on electricity costs since you do not need water filters.

If you are the type who prefers to have a medium size fish bowl, you can choose to buy low cost lighting equipment for your tank. Again, this is not expensive. However, if you are not the type of person to settle for a small fish bowl, you can set up a mini aquarium to further accentuate your living room. You just need to have a small water filter that helps maintain your tank's water, certain types of fish species such as Bloodfin Tetra and Guppy, live aquatic plants, decorative rocks and sand, and other ornamentations that you may include based on personal preference.

You also need to choose the type of material for your mini freshwater aquarium. Basically, manufacturers offer glass and acrylic aquariums, but you need to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each type. Since you are working with a small budget, you may opt for glass which is less expensive than acrylic. Generally, acrylic is lighter than glass and more readily fashioned into your own unique shape, but it is more expensive and somewhat more easily scratched than glass. However, some acrylic scratches can be polished out, while scratched glass is all but impossible to fix.

No matter how big or small your freshwater aquarium, it does not matter as long as you keep your tank looking good. It is also important that you keep your fish healthy - the main reason to maintain your freshwater aquarium. Sit back, relax and enjoy the company of your fish, regardless of what size of aquarium you choose.

Live aquatic plants can also be a big help in a tropical freshwater aquarium because plants also help utilize the ammonia and reduce waste levels in the tank. Plants also provide shy or frightened fish with hiding places reducing the amount of stress the fish experience which keeps them healthier. Planted tropical freshwater aquariums are often more stable and contain healthier, happier fish than non-planted aquariums.

As for the stand of your mini aquarium, you can personalize it by using some basic carpentry skills or seeking the help of a friend when building it. This way, you can save a significant amount of money compared to buying a custom-made stand from the manufacturer. Determine how high you want the stand to be - high enough for comfortable viewing, but not so high that the aquarium dominates the room.

How to fillet a fish (with video)

I have been trying to find a really useful and good quality fish filleting video to show my readers for ages now and I had almost given up. This video is not fantastic quality, but is probably the most complete and easy method to fillet a fish that I could find on the Internet.

Like the guy in the video suggests, if you are only going to be cooking the fillets (without skin) there is no reason to go through the less desirable processes of scaling, gutting or removing the gills. This makes this method much less icky for people who are new to filleting or are simply a little squeamish.

All you will need to this method is some newspaper to keep the bench clean, a clean plate and a sharp (it must be sharp) filleting knife. If your filleting knife is a blunt and don't know how to sharpen it your local butcher will do it for you (if you ask nicely).

How to fillet a fish

This method can be used for most types of fish.

Saltwater fish recipes (wahoo, mahi mahi etc.)

I love cooking (and eating) fish for two reasons. I can catch my own so I know how fresh it is and cooking fish can be as quick and simple as you want to make it. Many fish recipes literally take 5 minutes or less to cook and preparation can also be made simple.

I found a really great video showing two of the most simple, yet tasty, saltwater fish recipes I have ever seen. These recipes can be used to impress your friends and with fresh fish they taste absolutely amazing!

For the following recipes you will need:

• Fillets of saltwater fish (this recipe works best with any fish with white flesh.)
• Almonds
• Flour
• Eggs
• Butter
• Garlic
• Lime Juice
• Olive Oil
• Basil
• Salt
• Black Pepper

Enjoy!

How to make beer batter - fish recipe

I must admit I love fried seafood and one of my favorite batter recipes is beer batter. It has such a lovely flavor and creates a delicious crispy coating on almost anything you can think of frying. I have personally used it on everything from fish to zucchini fritters and friends always comment on it's flavor and crispiness (and it is a great way to get your kids to eat their veggies!).

For this recipe you will need the following ingredients:

• Plain Flour
• Ground Nut Oil (this can be substituted with other oils)
  
• Beer
• Salt and Pepper
• Spices (optional)
• Seafood to batter
  

This recipe is very simple, but it makes great batter. You will probably find that it makes better batter than packet batter and contains much less salt than the packet variety, which is better for your health.

I recommend experimenting with different foods to batter as you never know when you will find a gem of a battered dish that you had never thought of (a bit like my Zucchini fritters).

Beer Batter Recipe
It is all explained in this short easy to follow video

How do fish smell

The title of this post could be taken two ways. I was temped to simply write BAD in big black letters, but April fools is long gone (thankfully), and fish don't really smell that bad.

The sense of smell is extremely important to a fish. It gives them ability to smell out food and in some cases return to the correct breeding location years after leaving "home." The salmonoid family of fishes can detect a certain amino acid in quantities as little as 1 part per 8 billion, which is quite amazing really. This ability means that fish are just as easily put off by smells they are unfamiliar with. The can include the following sunscreen, motor oil and petrol.

How do fish smell
Fish don't have nostrils like mammals, but have a very similar set of holes called nares which lead into a chamber full of sensory pads. The fish smells by moving water through this chamber and over the sensory pads and in general the faster the water moves through the better the sense of smell. Most fish need to keep swimming for this to occur, but some fish can pump water through the system via tiny hairs called cilia or through muscle movement. When the sensory pads pick up a smell they transmit the signal to the brain for interpretation, which the fish ultimately responds to.

Grouper Identification

It is important for anglers to be able to identify their catch for many reasons. If you keep fish for food then you need to be able to identify and differentiate between the safe species to eat from the poisonous fish. You will also need to be able to identify fish because similar fish can have different restrictions and keeping an undersized or protected species can cost you more than your dignity. Ignorance will not be tolerated as an excuse when the fisheries officers come inspecting.

Grouper Identification
For new anglers, and even experienced ones, grouper identification can be quite difficult. They have almost identical body structures and even the colors can be very similar depending on the species and age of the fish. Another confusing factor is the different names for the same fish when fishing different states or countries. It takes a bit of study and practice, but nothing beats experience for identifying fish. It is a great idea to keep a laminated chart or fish identification book on board.

There are also heaps of great online fish id sites to help with grouper identification. The following are a collection I have used and recommend.

Fish ID pdf (It is a great resource to save to your computer for future reference)
Southern Fishing grouper ID
Florida fish ID

I hope these help you out!

How do fish reproduce

For some time I have been thinking of writing a how do fish post a week, but have never really gotten around to it. I plan to cover a range of topics including how do fish reproduce (todays topic), hear, smell and many more. If you like (or hate) the idea feel free to leave a comment.

How do fish reproduce
While there are exceptions to the rule most fish reproduce in a similar fashion. In over 97% of fish species the eggs develop outside the mothers body. The male fish then fertilizes these eggs in the open water and they are left to hatch.

The newly-hatched young are called larvae. Usually they are poorly formed and carry a large yolk sac, which they use for food. At this stage they will look very different from the adult fish and are susceptible to predators. This period lasts for a few weeks during which the larvae grow and change their appearence and structure to resemble a juvenile fish. At this stage the fish will swich from feeding on the yolk sac to feeding on zooplankton prey.

In about 3% of the fish species the mother retains the eggs and internal fertilization takes place.

How to smoke salmon (with video)

Smoked salmon is one of my favorite meals and it is easy enough to do yourself. Smoking it yourself can save you some money and it can be quite fun. In this video the presenter uses a cooktop smoker, which can be found for around $40 from most good stores. However, there are many different types of smokers and it pays to do a little bit of research to find the right one for you. Most people start off with a cheap smoker to practice with and move up to a high end model once they have mastered the art.

Salmon is high in Omega 3 oils, which is very good for the heart and developing brain. There has been extensive study on salmon and its health benefits and the general consensus is to try and eat wild salmon where possible.

How to smoke salmon - video

Canned tuna recipes

After my post yesterday I thought I would add some tuna recipes to my blog and if you use the light canned tuna like the post suggests you will most likely not have any problems. Remember that fish is still part of a balanced diet.

I have tried to gather some of the easier recipes. These recipes are great for unexpected guests or a quick meal. I am no chef, but even I can make these!

Tuna Balls

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (6 ounce) can tuna, drained and flaked
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup chopped onion

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium bowl, blend tuna, cream cheese, 1/2 the pecans and onion. Shape into a ball or loaf. coat with remaining pecans. Refrigerate until serving.

Quick tuna salad

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (7 ounce) can solid white tuna packed in water, drained
• 1/4 cup creamy salad dressing (such as Miracle Whip™)
• 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish, or to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Mash tuna together with salad dressing and relish in a small bowl with a fork. Serve.

Finally I found this video of an old favorite Tuna Noodle Casserole - enjoy.



Thanks to allrecipes.com for the yummy tuna dishes.

Tuna fish and mercury

In recent times there has been some controversy about fish and mercury and the often confusing news reports do not help to clear up matters. Currently there are warnings that have been released for the bigger predatory pelagic fish that seem to have a mercury accumulation problem. This happens because these bigger fish eat many smaller fish with trace amounts of mercury and the mercury level accumulates in the bigger fish. The fish that carry some level of risk include (but are not limited to):

• Shark
• Swordfish
• King Mackerel
• Tilefish
• Some tunas (bigeye, ahi, yellowfin and canned albacore) other tunas are safe in moderate amounts.
• Marlin
• Orange Roughy

It is important to remember that all fish contains levels of mercury and fish consumption (particularly when pregnant should be monitored). Low levels of fish consumption should not be a problem.

What about tuna?
Tuna can be classified as a medium to high risk fish and consumption should be monitored. Eating light canned tuna seems to be the lowest risk option at the moment and is listed under the "eat moderately" banner of the FDA.

Why is mercury bad
Mercury is a natural substance, but high levels can have adverse side effects. It is a poison for the nervous system. Exposure during pregnancy is of most concern, because it may harm the development of the unborn baby’s brain. Some studies suggest that small increases in exposure may affect the heart and circulatory system.

What to do?
Remember that eating fish is part of a healthy diet. If you are pregnant eat fish from the low risk category and monitor your intake.

Low risk fish (FDA list)
Enjoy these fish:
Anchovies
Butterfish
Catfish
Clam
Crab (Domestic)
Crawfish/Crayfish
Croaker (Atlantic)
Flounder
Haddock (Atlantic)
Hake
Herring
Mackerel (N. Atlantic, Chub)
Mullet
Oyster
Perch (Ocean)
Plaice
Pollock
Salmon (Canned)
Salmon (Fresh)
Sardine
Scallop
Shad (American)
Shrimp
Sole (Pacific)
Squid (Calamari)
Tilapia
Trout (Freshwater)
Whitefish
Whiting

If you have any further questions feel free to leave a comment

Brazilian Fish Stew Recipe - Fish Recipe

This is a great recipe instructional video and is well worth watching if you are looking for an interesting a delicious fish recipe. My wife tried the recipe with some of the reef fish I had caught and it really makes a great meal. My wife says it is a low difficulty dish and everyone should be able to make it.

The video is really well done and very clear so that you will be able to follow the instructions. Enjoy.

Fish Recipe - Steamed fish with vegtables

As promised I have decided to post more fishing recipes for those who love to eat their catch, or for people who buy their fish (there is no shame in that!). Todays recipe is steamed fish with vegetables and is not only an extremely healthy meal, but is really easy to prepare. My wife tried this and I was surprised how much I enjoyed it (I am a fried fish type of guy). I hope this helps you with your next fish meal!

Fish Recipe - Fried fish with rosemary

I thought I would post something a little bit different today and include a video for a fish recipe. This is one of my personal favorite recipes and is also a much more healthy way of frying fish. You can use many species of fish for this recipe. It takes about 5-7 minutes and is so simple that even I can do it.



I am thinking about more posts like this one. If you like this type of post then tell me about it with a comment!