AJ size guess

[Graham Scott]

We are starting to catch a lot of AJ's off central qeensland. Can anyone help me with a rough size estimate. I have caught plenty of Spanish Mackerel to around 28kg and this felt a lot bigger.
Took about 30 minute on 50lb braid from about 40m of water. I was hitting it pretty hard after the first 10mins (when I wasn't winning)

[Graham Scott]

 I found a better photo

[Greg Burt]

Thats a reel fat bugger, gestermate 35kg, but I would add an extra 5kg for the grins

[Dan]

She looks quite chubby through the girth(bit like me really....  ), i'd comfortably give it 30-35 kg's. Piccies can be quite deceptive though.

Nice fish BTW... 

[Mick Cunningham]

well done .. i can,t wait to get mine 

[Peter Morris]

Yeah looks a good 30kg...Very solid fish.

Pete

[Stephen Polzin]

That's a beast in any case, nice one

[Graham Scott]

 Thanks for the input guys. We have been catching heaps of AJ's in the 4-10kg range since last September on some new country. Does anyone know if these little guys are seasonal, or change in size class? We are catching a mixture of trevally cobia and mack tuna with the AJ's, and one tiny yellow tail king. Also bumped into a whale shark last trip.
 We are fishing off central qld, north of the Capricorn Bunker group on the southern GBR, 40m deep about 45 miles offshore

[Peter Lowe]

Hi Graham,

Wow , that is a great shot of the whale shark - must have been one of those " I am so glad I am a fisherman" moments. I have always wanted to witness/snorkell with one of those big boys, they are such a beautiful creature.

I have some 45kg scales that will take a sling, so if you need a deckie or really want to know the weights of your AJ's, I will be only to happy to help you. 

Peter

 

[Greg Burt]

When things like that happen it's mind blowing  .

This is Cam's cus Casey patting a WS at a jigging wreck off the Barwon Banks  in 140m 3 years ago.

[Jon Li]

Great photos of whale shark ! I have a good friend who wud rather be climbing all over the fish should we encounter such a tame fish around the boat .

Jon .

[Graham Scott]

 Here is a close up of the head. Apparently you can tell individual fish by their spots. Is it the same as cus's fish?

[Chris Young]

Graham, That last shot is great Did you have a polarised filter on.?

The big Mantas also have individual markings,

[Graham Scott]

 One of the guys on board knows what he's doing with a camera,not me, but I don't think there was any filter photoshop, that looks pretty much what I saw. I just stick to fishing. There is also a video of the shark on our website at keppelbayescapes.com.au, I think under "adventures"