Hey all, 

I am a marine researcher from Colombia doing work in WA with endemic fishes (found only in WA). At the moment I am looking at baldchin groper and what happens with this species in the center of its distribution where they are almost as abundant as rats, compared to the limits of their range (North at Coral Bay and South near Busselton), where they are rare. My focus is on looking for juveniles because they are the ones that need to make it to a new place, find good food and habitat and then make it to adults. So they are the ones that have it toughest of all before they can make it to those yummy 40cm baldies that we all wanna eat (almost as good as my Caribbean fish:). Therefore, to find out what limits populations of baldies from going to the north or to the south (as most people think will happen as oceans get warmer), I am seeking out baby baldies.

My next trip, lucky me, is taking me on a trip up north from Bluff to Exmouth looking for what happens with baldie babies at their northern limits. I am visiting Bluff, Warroora, Coral Bay and Exmouth and would like to suss out with you fishing folk out there if you know of any good spots. I have been finding babies in rubble/weed shallow water lagoonal areas mostly, and looking for some of those up north. Any ideas? Wanna share your baldie spots with me? Keen to help? Comment? Share? Drop me a line!

Gypsy

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