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Spotted near Corfu
I'm totally new to this site and hope I've hit on the right one!
At the start of this month I was on holiday in Corfu and one day, along with many others, I watched - and was able to photograph and video - a fish swimming back and forth in the shallows right against the foreshore on the west side of the island. "Nothing surprising in that." I hear you say but let me continue ... It was of slim profile, about 70-80cm long, bright blue (almost electric blue) on its upper side with a silver underbelly and had the long 'nose' of a swordfish. Could this have been a juvenile swordfish? One of the instructors from the local diving school suggested it was a species of barracuda but I doubt that - even as a non-fishing person! It fascinated us for almost half an hour before swimming away into deeper water! -- Andy Crawford www.chiadfhear.co.uk Remove "my boots" to e-mail me |
Spotted near Corfu
It was of slim profile, about 70-80cm long, bright blue (almost electric
blue) on its upper side with a silver underbelly and had the long 'nose' of a swordfish. Probably a garfish, cheers, Norman. |
Spotted near Corfu
It was of slim profile, about 70-80cm long, bright blue (almost electric
blue) on its upper side with a silver underbelly and had the long 'nose' of a swordfish. Probably a garfish, cheers, Norman. |
Spotted near Corfu
Sounds a bit like a garfish.
The Big Man "Andy Crawford" wrote in message ... I'm totally new to this site and hope I've hit on the right one! At the start of this month I was on holiday in Corfu and one day, along with many others, I watched - and was able to photograph and video - a fish swimming back and forth in the shallows right against the foreshore on the west side of the island. "Nothing surprising in that." I hear you say but let me continue ... It was of slim profile, about 70-80cm long, bright blue (almost electric blue) on its upper side with a silver underbelly and had the long 'nose' of a swordfish. Could this have been a juvenile swordfish? One of the instructors from the local diving school suggested it was a species of barracuda but I doubt that - even as a non-fishing person! It fascinated us for almost half an hour before swimming away into deeper water! -- Andy Crawford www.chiadfhear.co.uk Remove "my boots" to e-mail me |
Spotted near Corfu
Sounds a bit like a garfish.
The Big Man "Andy Crawford" wrote in message ... I'm totally new to this site and hope I've hit on the right one! At the start of this month I was on holiday in Corfu and one day, along with many others, I watched - and was able to photograph and video - a fish swimming back and forth in the shallows right against the foreshore on the west side of the island. "Nothing surprising in that." I hear you say but let me continue ... It was of slim profile, about 70-80cm long, bright blue (almost electric blue) on its upper side with a silver underbelly and had the long 'nose' of a swordfish. Could this have been a juvenile swordfish? One of the instructors from the local diving school suggested it was a species of barracuda but I doubt that - even as a non-fishing person! It fascinated us for almost half an hour before swimming away into deeper water! -- Andy Crawford www.chiadfhear.co.uk Remove "my boots" to e-mail me |
Spotted near Corfu
The Big Man typed: Sounds a bit like a garfish. Thanks for the response. I've had a look at one or two sites on garfish (and silverfish) and having read the descriptions and looked at the various pictures displayed, feel that this wasn't either of these. None of the descriptions match the one I saw either in colour or profile. I'd be happy to email a picture of it if it'd help satisfy my curiosity -- Andy Crawford www.chiadfhear.co.uk Remove "my boots" to e-mail me |
Spotted near Corfu
The Big Man typed: Sounds a bit like a garfish. Thanks for the response. I've had a look at one or two sites on garfish (and silverfish) and having read the descriptions and looked at the various pictures displayed, feel that this wasn't either of these. None of the descriptions match the one I saw either in colour or profile. I'd be happy to email a picture of it if it'd help satisfy my curiosity -- Andy Crawford www.chiadfhear.co.uk Remove "my boots" to e-mail me |
Spotted near Corfu
I'd be happy to email a picture of it if it'd help satisfy my curiosity
Send picture then we'll all know, cheers, Norman. |
Spotted near Corfu
SEAANGLING typed: Send picture then we'll all know, cheers, Norman. email address for personal contact please Norman -- Andy Crawford www.chiadfhear.co.uk Remove "my boots" to e-mail me |
Spotted near Corfu
Andy Crawford typed: SEAANGLING typed: Send picture then we'll all know, cheers, Norman. email address for personal contact please Norman Through website would be best Andy -- Andy Crawford www.chiadfhear.co.uk Remove "my boots" to e-mail me |
Spotted near Corfu
Andy Crawford wrote:
SEAANGLING typed: Send picture then we'll all know, cheers, Norman. email address for personal contact please Norman Why not post a pic here, then we can all see. |
Spotted near Corfu
Hi all,
Have posted links to images here on behalf of my dad. http://www.nj2t.net/personal/corfu_2.../DSC01303.html http://tinyurl.com/6up6f http://www.nj2t.net/personal/corfu_2.../DSC01302.html http://tinyurl.com/3nwow HTH -- McPloppy © { Remove both MyShoes to email me } { Homepage: http://tinyurl.com/bbel } { My Alternative Site: http://tinyurl.com/rynb } "Andy Crawford" wrote in message ... The Big Man typed: Sounds a bit like a garfish. Thanks for the response. I've had a look at one or two sites on garfish (and silverfish) and having read the descriptions and looked at the various pictures displayed, feel that this wasn't either of these. None of the descriptions match the one I saw either in colour or profile. I'd be happy to email a picture of it if it'd help satisfy my curiosity -- Andy Crawford www.chiadfhear.co.uk Remove "my boots" to e-mail me |
Spotted near Corfu
Further images can be seen he
http://www.chiadfhear.co.uk/temp/corfu_fish/ http://tinyurl.com/3o5d5 Mcploppy © typed: Hi all, Have posted links to images here on behalf of my dad. http://www.nj2t.net/personal/corfu_2.../DSC01303.html http://tinyurl.com/6up6f http://www.nj2t.net/personal/corfu_2.../DSC01302.html http://tinyurl.com/3nwow HTH "Andy Crawford" wrote in message ... The Big Man typed: Sounds a bit like a garfish. Thanks for the response. I've had a look at one or two sites on garfish (and silverfish) and having read the descriptions and looked at the various pictures displayed, feel that this wasn't either of these. None of the descriptions match the one I saw either in colour or profile. I'd be happy to email a picture of it if it'd help satisfy my curiosity -- Andy Crawford www.chiadfhear.co.uk Remove "my boots" to e-mail me -- McPloppy © { Remove both MyShoes to email me } { Homepage: http://tinyurl.com/bbel } { My Alternative Site: http://tinyurl.com/rynb } |
Spotted near Corfu
Hi Andy
Where abouts in corfu do you stay? Jason |
Spotted near Corfu
Brutus Gold typed: Hi Andy Where abouts in corfu do you stay? Jason Aghios Gordios ... west coast -- Andy Crawford www.chiadfhear.co.uk Remove "my boots" to e-mail me |
Spotted near Corfu
Looks like a gar or gar family
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Spotted near Corfu
Nice part of the Island, I have a house just outside Magoulades, between
Sidari and Arillas.. But ive never seen a fish like that by the way some nice shots of Greek Food! MMMMMMmmmmmmmythos! Jason |
Spotted near Corfu
Nice part of the Island, I have a house just outside Magoulades, between
Sidari and Arillas.. But ive never seen a fish like that by the way some nice shots of Greek Food! MMMMMMmmmmmmmythos! Jason |
Spotted near Corfu
Derek.Moody typed: In article , Mcploppy © wrote: Hi all, Have posted links to images here on behalf of my dad. &c. snips I've had a look at one or two sites on garfish (and silverfish) and having read the descriptions and looked at the various pictures displayed, feel that this wasn't either of these. None of the descriptions match the one I saw either in colour or profile. I've done a bit of a chase on this one and, well, we'll come to that in a moment. First the pix show a long, nearly tubular (at the rear) body with a continuous small fin running from the back of a prominent first dorsal with a suggestion that there may be another dorsal fin close to the tail. The tail is a distinct half-moon shape. The eye is large and the fish does have a long snout of some sort. I'm not happy with the pectoral fins but this does have a reasonably close resemblance to the description of a surprising species: ++++++++++++++++++ From: Unit 3. Fish Ecology Outcome 2: Principle Commercial species in the Mediterranean. Part 1: Mediterranean Commercial Important Species Juan Ignacio de Leiva Marine Resources Service FAO Fisheries Department General Features: (*asterisks my emphasis*) *Body elongate and cylindrical. *Upper jaw prolonged into a long bill. *Eyes large. Mouth not protrusible. Fine, file-like teeth present in specimens of about 1 m (body length), disappearing with growth. Gill openings wide; no gillrakers. *Two widely separate dorsal fins in adults **(continuous in immature specimens)**, the first much larger than the second; first dorsal with 34 to 49, second dorsal with 4 to 6 rays; two separate anal fins in adults (continuous in immature specimens) the first much larger than the second; first anal with 13 or 14, second anal with 3 or 4 rays; position of second anal fin slightly more forward than that of second dorsal fin; pectoral fins falcate, a little rigid and *situated low on body sides*, with 16 to 18 rays; pelvic fins absent; *caudal fin large and lunate. Caudal peduncle with a large keel present on each side and a deep notch on both the dorsal and ventral surfaces; anus situated near first anal fin origin. Colour: back and sides of body blackish-brown, gradually fading to light-brown on ventral side. ++++++++++++++++++ It's the juvenile features which are of interest. (Some of them I'd never heard of. I have only ever seen a stuffed adult specimen.) You really need to go through your video almost frame-by-frame to try and get some glimpses of the other fins/features. No need to see the whole fish in one frame if you can add together the kit of parts ;-) In particular you need to make *certain* that it is not one of the needlefish/garpike/houndfish group. The description I have quoted continues: ++++++++++++++++++ The average weight in the Mediterranean Sea ranges from 115 to 160 kg. Usually females are larger than males. Swordfish (Xiphias gladius). ++++++++++++++++++ So, just for a change (it must be the very first time here) I think you really might have seen a swordfish. 'Is it a swordfish?' sightings turn out to be garfish better than a million times to one. Congratulations, and -really- study that video 'cos I could still be wrong. Cheerio, Derek Many thanks for your response. I'll see what I can do about the video. It was taken by a friend on a digital Sony so ... watch this space! -- Andy Crawford www.chiadfhear.co.uk Remove "my boots" to e-mail me |
Spotted near Corfu
Derek.Moody typed: In article , Mcploppy © wrote: Hi all, Have posted links to images here on behalf of my dad. &c. snips I've had a look at one or two sites on garfish (and silverfish) and having read the descriptions and looked at the various pictures displayed, feel that this wasn't either of these. None of the descriptions match the one I saw either in colour or profile. I've done a bit of a chase on this one and, well, we'll come to that in a moment. First the pix show a long, nearly tubular (at the rear) body with a continuous small fin running from the back of a prominent first dorsal with a suggestion that there may be another dorsal fin close to the tail. The tail is a distinct half-moon shape. The eye is large and the fish does have a long snout of some sort. I'm not happy with the pectoral fins but this does have a reasonably close resemblance to the description of a surprising species: ++++++++++++++++++ From: Unit 3. Fish Ecology Outcome 2: Principle Commercial species in the Mediterranean. Part 1: Mediterranean Commercial Important Species Juan Ignacio de Leiva Marine Resources Service FAO Fisheries Department General Features: (*asterisks my emphasis*) *Body elongate and cylindrical. *Upper jaw prolonged into a long bill. *Eyes large. Mouth not protrusible. Fine, file-like teeth present in specimens of about 1 m (body length), disappearing with growth. Gill openings wide; no gillrakers. *Two widely separate dorsal fins in adults **(continuous in immature specimens)**, the first much larger than the second; first dorsal with 34 to 49, second dorsal with 4 to 6 rays; two separate anal fins in adults (continuous in immature specimens) the first much larger than the second; first anal with 13 or 14, second anal with 3 or 4 rays; position of second anal fin slightly more forward than that of second dorsal fin; pectoral fins falcate, a little rigid and *situated low on body sides*, with 16 to 18 rays; pelvic fins absent; *caudal fin large and lunate. Caudal peduncle with a large keel present on each side and a deep notch on both the dorsal and ventral surfaces; anus situated near first anal fin origin. Colour: back and sides of body blackish-brown, gradually fading to light-brown on ventral side. ++++++++++++++++++ It's the juvenile features which are of interest. (Some of them I'd never heard of. I have only ever seen a stuffed adult specimen.) You really need to go through your video almost frame-by-frame to try and get some glimpses of the other fins/features. No need to see the whole fish in one frame if you can add together the kit of parts ;-) In particular you need to make *certain* that it is not one of the needlefish/garpike/houndfish group. The description I have quoted continues: ++++++++++++++++++ The average weight in the Mediterranean Sea ranges from 115 to 160 kg. Usually females are larger than males. Swordfish (Xiphias gladius). ++++++++++++++++++ So, just for a change (it must be the very first time here) I think you really might have seen a swordfish. 'Is it a swordfish?' sightings turn out to be garfish better than a million times to one. Congratulations, and -really- study that video 'cos I could still be wrong. Cheerio, Derek Many thanks for your response. I'll see what I can do about the video. It was taken by a friend on a digital Sony so ... watch this space! -- Andy Crawford www.chiadfhear.co.uk Remove "my boots" to e-mail me |
Spotted near Corfu
Hi,
I've had a look at the pictures. Garfish do grow to over a meter in length in the Med sometimes but I must admit I have never seen one that big myself so close inshore. The pictures are not clear enough to be 100% certain that it is not a garfish. I am pretty sure that it is not a swordfish though. Profile is a bit too long, tail crescent too deep and the colour is a deep blue whereas even young swordfish are usually a darker colour. It could however be a juvenile Mediterranean Spearfish ( Tetrapturus belone ). This is a fairly common member of the marlin family that occurs in the Med. It is usually found offshore but they often approach land in Autumn and this may be a young one that ended up right inshore. Here are a couple of websites with images and descrptions http://www.fishbase.org/summary/spec...ry.cfm?id=1823 http://www.geocities.com/nauticaclub/spcbillfish.html http://www.vinko-entertainment.com/i.../iglan_big.JPG I only once ever hooked one of these and it threw the hook within a minute after a couple of fantastic jumps Regards Aaron "Mcploppy ©" a écrit dans le message de news: ... Hi all, Have posted links to images here on behalf of my dad. http://www.nj2t.net/personal/corfu_2.../DSC01303.html http://tinyurl.com/6up6f http://www.nj2t.net/personal/corfu_2.../DSC01302.html http://tinyurl.com/3nwow HTH -- McPloppy © { Remove both MyShoes to email me } { Homepage: http://tinyurl.com/bbel } { My Alternative Site: http://tinyurl.com/rynb } "Andy Crawford" wrote in message ... The Big Man typed: Sounds a bit like a garfish. Thanks for the response. I've had a look at one or two sites on garfish (and silverfish) and having read the descriptions and looked at the various pictures displayed, feel that this wasn't either of these. None of the descriptions match the one I saw either in colour or profile. I'd be happy to email a picture of it if it'd help satisfy my curiosity -- Andy Crawford www.chiadfhear.co.uk Remove "my boots" to e-mail me |
Spotted near Corfu
Hi,
I've had a look at the pictures. Garfish do grow to over a meter in length in the Med sometimes but I must admit I have never seen one that big myself so close inshore. The pictures are not clear enough to be 100% certain that it is not a garfish. I am pretty sure that it is not a swordfish though. Profile is a bit too long, tail crescent too deep and the colour is a deep blue whereas even young swordfish are usually a darker colour. It could however be a juvenile Mediterranean Spearfish ( Tetrapturus belone ). This is a fairly common member of the marlin family that occurs in the Med. It is usually found offshore but they often approach land in Autumn and this may be a young one that ended up right inshore. Here are a couple of websites with images and descrptions http://www.fishbase.org/summary/spec...ry.cfm?id=1823 http://www.geocities.com/nauticaclub/spcbillfish.html http://www.vinko-entertainment.com/i.../iglan_big.JPG I only once ever hooked one of these and it threw the hook within a minute after a couple of fantastic jumps Regards Aaron "Mcploppy ©" a écrit dans le message de news: ... Hi all, Have posted links to images here on behalf of my dad. http://www.nj2t.net/personal/corfu_2.../DSC01303.html http://tinyurl.com/6up6f http://www.nj2t.net/personal/corfu_2.../DSC01302.html http://tinyurl.com/3nwow HTH -- McPloppy © { Remove both MyShoes to email me } { Homepage: http://tinyurl.com/bbel } { My Alternative Site: http://tinyurl.com/rynb } "Andy Crawford" wrote in message ... The Big Man typed: Sounds a bit like a garfish. Thanks for the response. I've had a look at one or two sites on garfish (and silverfish) and having read the descriptions and looked at the various pictures displayed, feel that this wasn't either of these. None of the descriptions match the one I saw either in colour or profile. I'd be happy to email a picture of it if it'd help satisfy my curiosity -- Andy Crawford www.chiadfhear.co.uk Remove "my boots" to e-mail me |
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