Fringefin Trevally Pantolabus radiatus are one of those Moreton Bay fish that don’t get a lot of attention, but when you find them, they are great fun on light tackle.
They are relatively small, but fight well for their size and are quite distinctive with their silvery body, yellowish tail and males with extended fin rays.
This is a good time of year to target them, and recently some of the local Filipino anglers have been getting bag limits around the middle of the Hornibrook Bridge using tiny soft plastics and light jigheads. The technique is simple – cast out, let the lure sink, then whip it back quickly with the current. It’s a surprisingly fast retrieve for such a small lure, but the trevally seem to love it.
Light Tackle Setups and Culinary Ideas
Light tackle makes them even more fun. A 1-3kg or 2-4kg spin outfit with fine braid and a light fluorocarbon leader is more than enough.
The local guys also tell me they are very good eating, which gives you another reason to target them. They have firm white flesh and are apparently excellent fresh sashimi, fried or in soups.
If you’re fishing around the bridge at this time of year, keep an eye out for them – you might be surprised at just how much fun these little trevally can be.
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