FISHO was contacted this week by well-known fishing guide Warren “Wazza” Smith from the NT’s Melville Island Lodge with news of an unusual capture.
The images here – taken by fishing client Dave Ristovsky – feature a very unusually coloured saratoga that was caught at Melville’s renowned ‘toga location, Goose Creek.
While the fish has all the shape and body characteristics of a “normal” saratoga its striking orange colouration is definitely something out of the box.
For clarification, we contacted expert fish biologist Dr Ben Diggles. According to Ben the fish is actually “a golden saratoga not an albino, as there is still some dark pigment, but certainly a different colour morph, probably controlled by a recessive gene.” Interesting stuff.
For the record the guide involved was Paul Talbot and the catch took place at “Boof Corner”. The fish fell for a Z-Man Swimmerz soft plastic.
Have you caught or seen one of these unusual ‘togas? Let us know.
Check out Fishing World’s May issue for a feature on fishing for saratoga.
For info on fishing Melville Island go to:
ttp://www.tiwiadventures.com.au/locations/melville_lodge.html
