Species ID

[RockHunter]

Just back from holidays in Croatia.
Can anybody identify the following species caught off the Croatian coastline.
The second one looks a bit like an Ornate Wrasse but different to those I caught in the Mediterranean last year.

Thanks !!!

[The Austrian]

1st fish could be a Crenilabrus Quinquemaculatus or Five-Spotted Wrasse, quite common, 8-16cm, maximum 21cm, this fish is very secretive, always moving around in the cover of rocks or seaweed and always staying close to the seabed.
http://www.calypso.org.uk/WrassePicSamp ... nails.html

2nd picture could be that of a Symphodus ocellatus or Little Eye or Darling Wrasse, which is a common small, maximum 15 cm mediterranean wrasse species. Its characteristic is the ocellus (a little eye) at the base of the head at the end of its gills.
http://www.marseille-sympa.com/ocellatus.html

I could be completely wrong, there are so many different mediterranean wrasse species and color variations depending on habitat, breeding and gender, and I'm far away from being an expert and obviously therefore fully open to corrections but maybe it helps to point you in the right direction.

[RockHunter]

Thanks, you may be correct on the IDs.

[dfella25]

Did you like Croatia Frank? I spent a week over in Dubrovnik a few years back and loved it. I will deffo go back some day if for nothing else this restaurant I found built onto a guys house. He tells you what your having! It was magical all the same.

[RockHunter]

Did you like Croatia Frank?

Yes it was great!!
We travelled around quite a lot in the first week, did a little fishing along the southern coast north and south of Split in the second week although the fishing was poor, just a few very small fish. Then stayed on one of the islands for six days, did a bit more fishing, but I got a bad attack of gout after the second day on the island (too much beer and red meat and not enough water). That severely limited the amount of fishing I could do.
Food was very good alright (I could probably have done with eating a lot less!!!!)

[The Austrian]

I always found shore angling in Croatia not very productive, even if marks were looking promising there were holding either no fish at all or only very small species. Big Game or reef angling seems to be the only worthwhile form of sea angling and there are a few sites which might be worth exploring for future trips.
http://jezera.net/jezera-big-game-fishing.html
http://www.jezera.com/eng_Big-Game-Fish ... ig_all.htm
http://www.direct-croatia.com/apartments/jezera
Having said that, my last diving trips there were in the mid 70s but I do not believe that the overall situation has improved since. I still do like the food though

[dfella25]

Now that is a plate of food! I went snorkelling and say loads of fish just off the shore at some reefs but what they were or how you could fish for them I had no idea! Travel rod next time Glad you had a good time except for the gout!