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Fish Pond

LADY DENMAN MARINE RESERVE MARINE/ESTUARINE FLORA AND FAUNA The Lady Denman Marine Reserve is unique: a predominantly tidal enclosure within an estuary which provides a sustainable habitat for species from several habitat zones of Jervis Bay. In its relatively undeveloped state, the Marine Reserve supports large pelagic species such as mid-zone fish such as bottom-dwellers such as species from rocky habitats including tailor, snapper and kingfish; bream and mullet; flathead, flounder and the rays; gobies and blennies, octopus, and representatives from reef and rock pool communities. The largest and most conspicuous species are naturally the most popular with visitors (some of the snapper, tailor and flathead weigh in excess of 6kg). Most of these larger inhabitants have been introduced on a trial-and-error basis over the last twelve years by fisherman and LDHC volunteer Barry Watts, who also planted seagrasses and added various molluscs and other invertebrates to encourage the development of a self-sustaining system. This was successful, and a wide variety of marine/estuarine flora and fauna has since taken up residence in and around the Reserve. It has become much more than a “fish pond”; its interconnected diversity now reflects something of the biodiversity of Jervis Bay and South Coast waters, which is a source of increasing fascination with visitors and locals alike. The list below, particularly regarding smaller species and flora, is of course incomplete. It should also be noted that not all species listed may still be present in the Reserve, but all those included adapted well to the Reserve and thrived for long periods.   VERTEBRATES SHARKS, RAYS AND EELS Easily identified by a bony crest above the eyes and harness-like arrangement of dark brown stripes on the body. Jervis Bay is an important breeding ground for these harmless sharks, whose spiral egg cases are often washed up on south coast beaches. Their teeth are flat grinding plates, suited to their diet of shellfish, crustaceans and various scraps. PORT JACKSON SHARK (Heterodontus portusjacksoni) Maximum Length: 100 cm   Flat banjo-shaped body with sharklike tail and unique dark line pattern on the dorsal surface. Found from QLD to Eden. Like other skates and rays, this harmless species is a bottom feeder with an excellent sense of smell. EASTERN FIDDLER RAY or BANJO SHARK (Trygonorrhina sp.) Maximum Length: 125 cm     BONY FISH This well-known species has beautifully patterned skin with no scales. Its flesh is extremely poisonous. SMOOTH TOADFISH (Tetractenos glaber) Maximum Length: 15 cm   Generally silver with a bluish-grey tinge. Streamlined and fast with razor-sharp teeth, these rapidly maturing predators are found in schools. Those in this reserve are veracious feeders in the summer months, but they are seldom seen in midwinter. TAILOR (Pomatomus saltatrix) Maximum Length: 110 cm   Fast-moving schooling carnivore common to coastal waters of southeastern Australia. AUSTRALIAN BONITO (Sarda australis) Maximum Length: 100 cm   The colour of this easily recognisable species is variable, ranging from sandy with small brown spots and dusky blotches to blackish brown with whiter spots. It has poisonous spines on its gill covers. Habitat is the sandy to silty bottoms of NSW estuaries and bays. The larger individuals in this reserve were caught in Jervis Bay and are over twenty years old. DUSKY FLATHEAD (Platycephalus fuscus) Maximum Length: 150 cm   A common estuarine species in NSW particularly near jetties. These fish breed in the reserve, and perform the invaluable service of removing parasites from larger fish. DIAMOND FISH (Monodactylus argenteus) Maximum Length: 19 cm   This master of camouflage is often found in the estuaries and bays of Australia's east and west coasts. LARGE-TOOTHED FLOUNDER (Pseudorhombus arsius) Maximum Length: 53 cm   Common in coastal bays and esturies, feeding mainly at night. Their camouflage makes them hard to see amongst weeds and rocks. If trodden on the venemous dorsal spines produce a very painful sting. These fish breed in the marine reserve. EASTERN FORTESQUE (Centropogon australis) Maximum Length: 10 cm   This species inhabits estuaries and bays and breeds in this Reserve. Colour varies from shiny pink to a bluish silver with yellow borders to the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. SILVERBIDDY (Gerres subfasciatus) Maximum Length 23 cm   Abundant in the coastal and estuarine waters of eastern Australia. Also known as Bluenose Whiting SAND WHITING (Sillago ciliata) Maximum Length 47 cm   Variable in colour from steel blue to olive green to brown, often with brownish lines along the lower sides. They travel in large schools through Jervis Bay in Autumn. The Sea Mullet in the reserve grow rapidly in the first few years and keep a low profile in the winter months. They feed on algae and a variety of detritus and scraps including bread. They can be seen feasting on swarming termites on hot summer afternoons. SEA MULLET (Mugil cephalus) Maximum Length 80 cm   Silvery olive brown to bronze, one of the most recognisable fish in the reserve. They have a broad diet which includes crustaceans and molluscs as well as bait fish. The yellow fin type is more common, in Jervis Bay, than the black fin type. These fish breed in the reserve, and can be sometimes seen queueing for the cleaning services of the Diamond Fish. BLACK BREAM (Acanthopagrus butcheri) Maximum Length 55 cm   Seasonally common in bays and estuaries from Queensland to as far south as Eden. These fish breed in the Marine Reserve. EASTERN SEA GARFISH (Hyporhamphus australis) Maximum Length: 52 cm   Blue to bluish green back, separated from white lower half of body by a dark line. Yellow caudal and ventral fins. Normally occurs in schools in southern Australian coastal waters. Observations in this Reserve show it to be an inquisitive, cheeky species, usually on the move. Likes sheltering under floating objects. YELLOWTAIL KINGFISH (Seriola lalandi) Maximum length: 2m   This distinctive little fish with yellow and black stripes is reasonably common on shallow protected reefs on Australia's east and west coasts. It often forms small schools around jetties. STRIPEY (Microcanthus strigatus) Maximum Length: 16cm   Also known as the Jewfish. Habitat is coastal and estuarine waters of southern Australia except Tasmania. Usually moves in schools, and occurs infrequently in deep offshore waters. This magnificent fish may live for over a century, and its slow maturing rate makes it vulnerable to overfishing. Its numbers in Jervis Bay have declined in recent years. MULLOWAY (Argyrosomus hololepidotus) Maximum length 2m   Dark brown to silvery light brown with thin dark verticle stripes. A common inhabitant of coastal and estuarine areas, they breed well in the reserve. Primarily algae feeders, they tend to eat almost anything all year round. LUDERICK or BLACKFISH (Girella tricuspidata) Maximum Length: 60cm   Commonly found schooling in coastal bays and esturies. This species breeds in the reserve. SURF SARDINE (Iso frothophilus) Maximum Length: 7cm   Greyish-green across the back and silverish on the underside. Seasonally common in schools along the southeastern Australian coastline. EASTERN AUSTRALIAN SALMON (Arripis trutta) Maximum Length: 90cm   Base colour varies from pale pinkish silver to almost brick red, with characteristic vivid blue spots along the upper halh of the body. Large hump on the head more prominent on males. Travels in schools along the deep offshore coastline of southern Australia. The snapper in this reserve have grown from 20cm to 75 cm in 11 years. They tend to school up in winter. A mighty fish and a spectacular feeder. SNAPPER (Pagrus auratus) Maximum Length: 130cm

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