We headed down to Ricketts Point early in the morning to have another look at the amazing aggregation that we'd seen over the last couple of weeks. For a while it looked like we weren't going to be able to get to the disve site, as a triathlon was being run along Beach Road, and initially we thought that we weren't going to be allowed through. It turned out that we were there early enough for us to get to the yacht club cart park, with our hazard lights on.
We arrived just in time to see a series of large waves break over the reed. This went on for around 10 minutes, although there was no swell, and absolutely no wind. We were there just on high tide, so perhaps it was a tidal bore of some sort. These unusual waves and the pink/orange light reflecting off the water combined to give the place a surreal feel.
The water was quite murky in spots, but there was lots of life. We saw many large Scalyfins protecting territory, a few Banjo Sharks, quite a few Dusky Morwong, Leatherjackets, Flathead, and Old Wives, and the biggest aggregation of Snapper and Zebrafish that we have seen to date! A few Pygmy Leatherjackets were also spotted in the shallows, and we also saw a number of Gobbleguts hiding in caves and under ledges.
The masses of fish surpassed anything that I have seen in an aquarium, and it is amazing to think that this is just a few kilometres from Melbourne's CBD!
The Southern Gobbleguts is a member of the very large Cardinalfish family. During the day it is generally found in caves and ledges. Ricketts Point Marine Reserve. 19 March 2017.
The Yellow-stripe Leatherjacket is generally a pale brown to an ash grey in colour, with a yellow (or orange) patch at the base of the tail. It grow to around 30 cm, and is commonly found on kelp reefs. They are often found in male/female pairs, with the male having four small spines at the base of the tail, and the yellow patch on the female extending onto the tail.
Snapper and Zebrafish at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary.
Snapper and Zebrafish at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary.
Zebrafish and an Old Wife at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary.
You can often see large shoals of Zebrafish around some of the rocky ledges of the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary. Sometimes they will ignore you completely, and other times will disappear into crevices and caves as soon as possible.
Old Wifes can grow up to 25 cm in length. Swimming with their fins erect, these graceful fish can be found in pairs, or as part of large schools. Large adults are sometimes seen on their own. They are named after the grunting sound they make when stressed, supposedly sounding like the humphing sound a fisherman's disapproving wife might make.The dorsal spine is venomous. This is the only representative of the family, and its relationship with other families is unclear.
Kirsty Batchelor, diving at Ricketts Point Marine Reserve.
Kirsty Batchelor, diving at Ricketts Point Marine Reserve.
Old Wifes can grow up to 25 cm in length. Swimming with their fins erect, these graceful fish can be found in pairs, or as part of large schools. Large adults are sometimes seen on their own. They are named after the grunting sound they make when stressed, supposedly sounding like the humphing sound a fisherman's disapproving wife might make.The dorsal spine is venomous. This is the only representative of the family, and its relationship with other families is unclear.
Kirsty Batchelor, diving at Ricketts Point Marine Reserve.
Kirsty Batchelor, diving at Ricketts Point Marine Reserve.
The Southern Fiddler Ray, also known as the Banjo Shark, is often seen foraging over shallow sandflats. Growing to around 1.2 metres, it can be distinguished from the Eastern Fiddler Ray by stripes rather than a triangle in the area behind the eyes. The Southern species is also much fainter in colouring. It seems to be quite placid, and is easily approached.
Although called the Rock Flathead, it is normally found in seagrass beds and flat weedy reefs, where its diffuse banding and blotched patterns camouflage it. It can grow to between 35 and 50 cm.
Kirsty Batchelor, diving at Ricketts Point Marine Reserve.
Horseshow Leatherjackets, Zebrafish, and an Old Wife at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary.
Horseshow Leatherjackets and Zebrafish at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary.
Old Wifes and a Silver Sweep at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary.
The Ocean jacket has an elongated oval body, with three dark stripes running along the sides. These stripes become more indistinct upon reaching maturity. The largest species of leatherjacketets in temperate waters, juveniles are often seen in estuaries and sheltered bays. Adults tend to stay in deeper waters.
Dusky morwong
Dusky morwong
The Southern Fiddler Ray, also known as the Banjo Shark, is often seen foraging over shallow sandflats. Growing to around 1.2 metres, it can be distinguished from the Eastern Fiddler Ray by stripes rather than a triangle in the area behind the eyes. The Southern species is also much fainter in colouring. It seems to be quite placid, and is easily approached.
Dusky Worwong can grow up to 1.2 metres. Adults a blue-green colour, while juveniles have brown spots and bars in the upper body and tail. They are regularly seen in seagrass beds, often in pairs, lying in the grass, and are quite easy to approach. This one was accompanied by a Rough Leatherjacket. The Rough Leatherjacket is covered in small, short fleshy filaments that look a bit like spines. It is a very timid fish that is hard to observe for long periods of time. It can grow to around 30 cm.
Snapper and Zebrafish at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary.
You can often see large shoals of Zebrafish around some of the rocky ledges of the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary. Sometimes they will ignore you completely, and other times will disappear into crevices and caves as soon as possible.
You can often see large shoals of Zebrafish around some of the rocky ledges of the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary. Sometimes they will ignore you completely, and other times will disappear into crevices and caves as soon as possible.
Divers: Kirsty Batchelor, Peter Batchelor
Weather/Sea: Calm.
