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04/09/2005: "JEWFISH a magnificent pelagic species"

Also known as a Mulloway more in books more than common speech. Jewie, and Jewies being the common terms used in Australia.

A quality fish, similar-looking to the northen barramundi. The jewfish swim in schools, once seen numbering by the hundred in the early days.

Legendary spear fishermen Wally Gibbins and Vic Ley recently spoke to each other of their exploits and success with these prized fish.

Vic said to Wal "My best spearing catch was 25 jewies in a day" to which Wal replied "my best catch was five with a single shot".

Described in detail, "the speargun was a high powered gas gun - home made that could hit fish from a distance of ten meters away".

When a school of big jewies swam past Wal, he fired.

The spear passed clean through four big jewies, (like the one pictured here).

Jewie number five fell off but was mortally injured and was caught.

On another occasion Wal speared a 60 and a 62 pounder with a single shot!

These were the foundation days of underwater activities and such exploits will never again be so easily achieved.

Not that it was easy....but it was possible then, not today.

The fish are just not that common anymore, and the underwater skills have changed. New priorities too.

Today some girls snorkel dive to depths of 70 meters. (More than double what these legends did).

Pictured above: Brian Davies with a nice Jewfish he caught at Seal Rocks NSW