Some Type of Cod? (Seven Bar Grouper/ Bar Cod)

[Berleyguts]

Any idea what fish this? I’m too lazy to get my Grant’s Guide to Fishes out! I was thinking some type of cod. Would it be protected? It was released.  About 42cm, caught in 38m off Port Stephens while drifting for flathead (I found a small patch of reef amongst the sand).
 

 

Edited May 13, 2020 by Blackfish

[Blackfish]

I recon its a Sevenbar Groper/ Banded Rock Cod/ Bar Cod all the same "Epinephelus ergastularius"

The Black Rock cod has only a Spot/Saddle on the Tail Wrist where the above has the band all the way.

[blairy69]

Looks like a juvenile bar cod but also could be a totally protected black code juveniles often have the bars

[rickmarlin62]

Bar cod  black cod at that size arnt as short n stout  and markings are different   heres one i prepared earlier

Edited May 8, 2020 by rickmarlin62

[Blackfish]

Maybe its the photo but in the Species Gallery here it looks very similar.

https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3853

 

Other than that not sure what other one it would be.

[noelm]

Caught lots of Bar Cod, the last "stripe" right at the base of the tail I think is the give away (from hazy memory)

[Berleyguts]

Yes, I’m leaning towards a bar cod from pictures I’ve googled. I’ll dig out my Grant’s Guide to Fishes sometime today and have a good read. I wasn’t thinking black cod - I saw a 120lb one caught on a charter at Lord Howe Island years ago. The markings were totally different.

DPI has this info on banded rock cod (bar cod) but the pic doesn’t show the white edge trim on the tail but it looks a lot like it just the same:

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/fish-species/species-list/bar-cod
 

Caught in 38m with a small standard red rock cod on the other dropper.

Edited May 8, 2020 by Berleyguts

[Blackfish]

I asked the people that are in the know and they say its a "Epinephelus ergastularius"  Sevenbar Groper/ Banded Rock Cod/ Bar Cod.

The Juveniles vertical bands are a definite white going right up to the tip of the dorsal fin, very pretty fish.

I suppose its like us, we don't look as good when we get a bit of age ........ I'll speak for myself 😁

I'm lead to  believe a Juvenile was photographed at Fly Point, Port Stephens and JonP's Daughter photographed one in Wagonga Inlet.