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24/07/2005: "BLUE GROPER"

A lot of blue groper were caught by spearmen before they were partially protected in 1968. Line fishermen could catch them but not divers.

They grew to about 40 pounds on the east coast, and about 50% larger in western and southern states.

Smaller 'brown' groper are female. When necessary, the largest brown groper in a group turns blue and becomes the male leader. One it was thought 'blues' were a different species to 'browns' - both could be 'weighed in' at competitions.

The colour change used to occur when brown groper were 12-14 pounds in weight.

In southern Queensland brown groper become blue males before they reach 400gm in weight, due to intense spearing at Point Lookout, for example.

Easy to see what happens where there is no state protection - the fish are on the brink of extinction.

However, (North Stradbroke Island) is also at the limit of the blue groper's northern range. No big deal?