• Welcome to the DeeperBlue.com Forums, the largest online community dedicated to Freediving, Scuba Diving and Spearfishing. To gain full access to the DeeperBlue.com Forums you must register for a free account. As a registered member you will be able to:

    • Join over 44,280+ fellow diving enthusiasts from around the world on this forum
    • Participate in and browse from over 516,210+ posts.
    • Communicate privately with other divers from around the world.
    • Post your own photos or view from 7,441+ user submitted images.
    • All this and much more...

    You can gain access to all this absolutely free when you register for an account, so sign up today!

Parrot fish.. any hunting suggestions?

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
Here is a small pic of our version of a parrot fish, also known as Cape knifejaw View attachment 13043.
They are relatively easy to hunt while sneaking up on them or during aspetto. They are very tasty and get to a pretty decent size aswell :)
If your searching for them, look under ledges and in holes and cracks, atleast thats places they tend to favour around my part of the world. That is if they are not cruising around gullies looking for something to eat on the drop offs.
 
Last edited:
I saw a parrot fish today that was huge. it must have been 20+lbs. I felt sorry for it so i didnt shoot it because it wouldnt move. And i really dont like eating them even though i could give it to my workers who would be extremely happy. It just wouldnt move...
 
Here is a small pic of our version of a parrot fish, also known as Cape knifejaw

That ain't a Parrotfish, its belongs to the Knifejaw family Oplegnathidae. Parrotfish belong in the Scaridae family.

About as related as myself and that cat over there... :)
 
rofl rofl Why Shadow I always thought I recognised feline qualities in your writing style rofl
Seriously, thanx for setting me straight there, like I said our version of a parrot fish, or atleast most of the guys here call em parrots as a generalisation, in tournament weigh ins they they get called Cape knifejaws though... :)
 
Miiiaaaoooowwww...

Sorry, pet peeve of mine when people use misleading common names. I figure fishy knowledge is the only way I can contribute to society, so I just rant away! :)

Old Fisho: Thats a nice Seabream.
Me: Actually its an Emperor, family Lethrinidae. Breams belong to the Sparidae family.
OF: Thats a Seabream.
Me: NO. ITS. NOT.
OF: Its a good size SeaBream.
Me: Stop calling it a Bream please. I don't refer to you as a Bird do I?
OF: I've always called that a Bream...
Me: Well stop. You now know better.
OF: I reckon 'im's a Bream.
Me: Righto... *cue memory blackout*

Days later...

Judge: What are charges?
Prosecution: Aggravated assault with a blunt instrument, to wit, one bream.
Me: Objection!!!!!! ITS AN F-ING EMPEROR!!!!!!!!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: deep thinker
jharryd, I've been spearing at magnetic island a few years back and never noticed a lot of blue bar parrots (the most common type methinks).

I regularly dive around brisbane and have found that you have two options when it comes to approaching them.

1) Get the while they are feeding. If they are munching on something they are oblivious to you and you may actualy have to wait till they see you so you don't smash the rock they are sitting in front of!

2) Parrot fish don't have very good vision above them. If you can dive directly above them you can get pretty close and they will often turn their bodies upwards to you so they can get a better look and this is the time to shoot, they will often bolt pretty quick after this.

There are some big suckers out there!

jackparrot.jpg
 
Last edited:
Just my 2 cents, I don't shoot or eat parrotfish but the kids and I feed them all the time, They LOVE Lays Potato chips and cheese whez in the can also dry cat food. If they are that hard to shoot maybe you should bring a can of cheese whiz down with you or maybe a chumb the waters with potato chips and cat food . I'm sure that would take the fun out of shooting them because they will be all around you trying to eat. That's my 2 cents.
Becky
 
Just my 2 cents, I don't shoot or eat parrotfish but the kids and I feed them all the time, They LOVE Lays Potato chips and cheese whez in the can also dry cat food. If they are that hard to shoot maybe you should bring a can of cheese whiz down with you or maybe a chumb the waters with potato chips and cat food . I'm sure that would take the fun out of shooting them because they will be all around you trying to eat. That's my 2 cents.
Becky

rofl rofl rofl

You cant kill them here in florida because its against the law. Its considered a tropical fish.
 
Yes I know that, like I said we don't shoot or eat them nor would I want to. Just helping them out on what our Parrotfish like to eat.
Becky
 
Are they the same species though? Over hear on the east coast of Australia blue bar parrot fish are a great fish to hunt and very tasty. Once they get over about 4kg they become pretty hard to shoot and can be very cagey at times.
 
I go night diving all along the coast and channels in Florida and see those suckers, some as big as 30 inches, just lying near structures asleep. It takes the fun out to be sure but if you really do eat those things then try it at night. The light and my bubbles don't seem to wake them up and sometimes I'll go and poke them till they mossy a few feet away and go back to sleep
 
I go night diving all along the coast and channels in Florida and see those suckers, some as big as 30 inches, just lying near structures asleep. It takes the fun out to be sure but if you really do eat those things then try it at night. The light and my bubbles don't seem to wake them up and sometimes I'll go and poke them till they mossy a few feet away and go back to sleep

i dont think its good to kill a fish that cant defend itself.
people who are not able to hunt do that out of misery.
 
Last edited:
oh NOO! hey guys try taking a look at the "insults and abuse" sticky on the "general freediving forum, before you start getting into one of the famous, sporty/no sporty debates... :) say "whoooooosssaaaaaaaaaaa" and rub your ears.....it also helps, at least it did in "bad boys 2"
cheers :)
 
DeeperBlue.com - The Worlds Largest Community Dedicated To Freediving, Scuba Diving and Spearfishing

ABOUT US

ISSN 1469-865X | Copyright © 1996 - 2024 deeperblue.net limited.

DeeperBlue.com is the World's Largest Community dedicated to Freediving, Scuba Diving, Ocean Advocacy and Diving Travel.

We've been dedicated to bringing you the freshest news, features and discussions from around the underwater world since 1996.

ADVERT