Had a great day out today with a family from Newman. We did not bag out but we got some good quality fish, 12 Spangled Emperor, a 14 pound Red Emperor caught by one of the young girls and 3 nice Cobia.
We also hooked a 60 to 70 pound Potato Cod. The Potato Cod are a protected species, so it was released.
Potato Cod are one of the larger reef fish found around the reef systems off Exmouth and Ningaloo, growing slowly and living for many decades. Because they are slow growing and easy to approach, they are fully protected in Western Australian waters and must always be returned to the water unharmed. We handle every Potato Cod carefully and get it back over the side as quickly as possible, which is exactly what we did with this one.
There are some more great photos of the Potato Cod on our Facebook page.
If you would like to know more about the Potato Cod, you can find some extra info at this site marineparks.dpaw.wa.gov.au.
You can watch footage of a Potato Cod interacting with divers on YouTube.
Days like this show what a mixed reef trip out of Exmouth can turn up, quality table fish like Spangled Emperor and Red Emperor alongside memorable encounters with protected species like the Potato Cod. If you would like to see one for yourself, you can view our available trips and book a charter here.
Frequently asked questions
Can you keep a Potato Cod if you catch one in Western Australia?
No. Potato Cod are a fully protected species in WA waters and must always be released. We handle them carefully and return them to the water as quickly as possible.
Why is the Potato Cod protected?
Potato Cod are slow growing, long lived and easy to approach, which makes them vulnerable to overfishing. Full protection in Western Australia lets the population recover and keeps them around for future trips.
Where are Potato Cod found around Exmouth?
They are usually encountered around reef structure on the Ningaloo and Exmouth Gulf reef systems, often in the same areas we target other reef species like Spangled Emperor and Cobia.
What else can you catch on a reef trip like this?
This trip also produced Spangled Emperor, a 14 pound Red Emperor and Cobia, which is a typical mixed bag for a day of reef fishing out of Exmouth.
Ready to plan your own day on the water? Get in touch with Blue Horizon Charters to book your Exmouth fishing charter.
