Lutjanus goldiei
Lutjanus goldiei, the Papuan black bass, New guinea bass, Niugini black bass, Papuan black snapper, or known locally as mogillo, is a large snapper species native to the Pacific Ocean from New Guinea all the way to Malaysia. Very little is known about this species behavior, but they are known to inhabit thick, jungle rivers and brackish river mouths, although they have been found in recent years to be able to enter saltwater. Papuan black bass are known to be aggressive hunters, and they are thought to be responsible for a series of vicious attacks around New Britain. Black bass are sight-relying, ambush hunters that often aggressively strike fishing lures, and also use snags and vegetation as cover for when they ambush their prey. Australian fishing icon, Rod Harrison, was the first Australian to have the fish identified by presenting, Dr John Paxton, Curator of the Australian Museum's fish collection, in the early 1970s. At that time, a common name was evident, so Harrison coined the name Black Bass after a few other options. His movies released on VHS and articles published about his adventures, through the 80s and 90s, of him catching these fish to this day have a cult following.
| Lutjanus goldiei | |
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| Species: | L. goldiei |
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| Lutjanus goldiei (Macleay, W., 1882) | |
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Description
This species is known to grow up to a metre in length or more, and can weigh over 20 kg (44 lbs) and sometimes up to 70 lbs at the largest. It is a darkly colored fish with a similar body plan to the mangrove red snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus) and Cubera snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus), large eyes, a deep, muscular body, long, thin pectoral fins, the anal fin matching the adipose fin in shape and length, two pelvic fins hanging down from the stomach directly below the pectoral fins, and a big head. Like most snappers of the Lutjanus genus, the Papuan Black Snapper has a body covered in thick scales with long, thin pectoral fins. The body is a dark brownish (almost black) coloring with faint, iridescent white stripes (similar to those on a Cubera Snapper and Mangrove snapper (Lutjanus griseus), and a yellowish tint to the fins. Like other snappers, they have incredible jaw strength with sharp canine-like teeth that are spaced apart in the mouth.
Sport fishing
Black bass are widely known as a strong fighting fish, and anglers from around the world travel to New Guinea to test its legendary strength for themselves. This fish has remarkable power for a fish its size, and is known to break lures, snap rods, strip gears and leave anglers astonished. This behavior is alike to attacks on surface lures by Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), and along with a similar body plan, this is why some fishermen call them the "Papuan Black Bass" even though they are a species of snapper (and are in no way related).
Relationship with humans
Young black bass are often caught for food by native fishermen, but the adult specimens are avoided as if they weren't to snap the line they would probably attack the fishermen bringing them in. These fish are also a prized sport fish by anglers who come from around the world to catch it.
Attacks in New Britain
As seen on the episode "Volcanic Island Terror" on Season Nine of River Monsters, Jeremy Wade traveled to the island chain of New Britain in Papua New Guinea to investigate a series of vicious attacks where the victims were left with mysterious puncture wounds. After extensive fishing and interviewing attack victims and witnesses, Jeremy came to the conclusion that the Papuan black bass was most likely responsible, as it has the teeth to inflict the wounds, it fits the description of what the victims and witnesses saw, and because of recent evidence that it can swim into saltwater from the river.