The “monkey fish” of Australia, likely a type of blenny or goby that inhabits coral reefs, presents a unique challenge for fishers. Their habit of hiding in holes within the reef makes traditional angling techniques ineffective.
However, a traditional method exists to catch these elusive fish: forced asphyxiation. While effective, this technique raises significant ethical and ecological concerns.
Asphyxiation fishing exploits the monkey fish’s reliance on its burrow for oxygenated water. During low tide, fishers locate a likely hole and cover it with a dense layer of native grass, securing it in place with a heavy rock.
This effectively cuts off the fish’s oxygen supply. After returning at the next low tide, approximately 12 hours later, the fisher may find the monkey fish deceased and floating at the top of its flooded burrow.
Blue-lined tuskfish (Choerodon cyanodus) show turquoise bodies with neon blue facial stripes and orange caudal margins; divers log typical lengths of 35–55 cm (14–22 in) with heavy lips and blunt teeth suited to shell crushing. Coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus) display crimson bodies with electric-blue spots, tapered heads, and average 45–65 cm (18–26 in), while scribbled angelfish juveniles present vertical white bars shifting to maze-like turquoise patterns by 25 cm (10 in).
Maori wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) juveniles carry broad green saddles that evolve into blue-green adults with forehead humps around 80–110 cm (31–43 in); females show yellow edging on pectorals. Stripey snapper (Lutjanus carponotatus) possess alternating brown and yellow stripes, a black caudal blotch, and mature at 25–35 cm (10–14 in), making them easy to separate from similarly banded sweetlips.
Massive Porites bommies trap cooler, low-flow pockets where dissolved oxygen in crevices can fall below 3 mg/L during slack neaps around 0500–0700, concentrating breath-holding species like morays. Acropora table corals generate complex overhangs where surge pumps fresh water on spring tides (1.8–2.4 m range) between 1300–1600, boosting oxygen to 6–7 mg/L and changing fish positioning every hour.
Shallow reef holes at 1–3 m depth can become hypoxic on low-pressure systems (<1008 hPa) when algal respiration peaks pre-dawn, so fish may surface-gasp near cave roofs. Afternoon incoming tides after 1500 often flush these holes with 0.4–0.6 m/sec flow, restoring oxygen and pulling ambush predators back to entrances.
After sunset, respiration by turf algae and sponges can drop oxygen in 2–4 m cavities to 2–3 mg/L, forcing nocturnal cardinalfish to hover at entrances between 2100–2300. On rising barometric trends, passive diffusion increases oxygen, drawing these fish deeper, changing capture depth by up to 0.5 m overnight.
While potentially successful, this method raises several red flags:
Animal Welfare: Asphyxiation is an inherently cruel way to catch a fish, causing unnecessary suffering.
Sustainability: Such a technique indiscriminately targets any fish in the hole. It may impact non-target species and potentially disrupt the delicate balance of the reef ecosystem.
Sport and Skill: It lacks the challenge and finesse of traditional angling methods.
A light jigging setup like the Shimano Grappler Type LJ S632 paired with a Twin Power 4000HG and 20–30 lb PE 1.5 braid handles vertical micro-jigs in 8–15 m coral edges. Circle hooks in 3/0–4/0 (Owner Mutu Light) with 30–40 lb fluoro leaders reduce gut-hooking when drifting baits along bommie faces.
For shallow rubble flats, a Daiwa TD Sol Inshore 7’ paired with a BG MQ 3000 and 15 lb braid casts 10–14 g prawn imitations across surge channels at dawn. Slow-pitch rods like the Temple Reef Levitate L2 with 100–140 g jigs work on outer reef slopes, but keep assist hooks short to avoid snagging branching Acropora.
Employ a Daiwa Saltiga Airportable 77XHS travel rod with a 5000 size reel and 40 lb PE 2.5 braid for pitching live baits into cave mouths during peak flow. Use snelled 5/0 Owner SSW hooks on 60 lb fluorocarbon when targeting tuskfish around rock ledges to prevent abrasion failures.
Fortunately, more ethical and sustainable options exist for those interested in catching reef-dwelling fish:
Micro-fishing: Using extremely small hooks and light lines, anglers can target specific fish species with minimal impact on the environment.
Spearfishing: This selective method allows for targeting individual fish, particularly in clear waters. It requires skill and adherence to local regulations.
Trapping (Limited): Under specific circumstances and strict regulations, fish traps can be a less disruptive method, although close monitoring is essential to minimize bycatch and release unintended species.
Education and Awareness: Promoting awareness among fishers about the drawbacks of asphyxiation fishing can encourage a shift towards more responsible practices.
Use Tanago or Gamakatsu Smallest hooks in sizes #28–#32 with 0.7–1.2 lb fluorocarbon tippets for gobies inhabiting 5 cm holes. Match them to a 28–32 in solid-glass rod such as the TenkaraBum 33SF cut-down blank or St Croix Panfish Premier 3’ UL for precise placement.
Mainline of 2–3 lb copolymer (0.12–0.14 mm) minimizes drag in micro-eddies; add 0.4 g split shot 10 cm above the hook to hold baits in surge. Pocket floats rated 0.3–0.6 g, such as Nakazima Micro, reveal subtle inhale bites from 4–6 cm blennies.
A Rob Allen Sparid 90 with 7.0 mm x 140 cm shaft suits reef bombies under 10 m visibility, while a Pathos Laser Carbon 110 with 6.5 mm x 150 cm shaft excels in clearer drop-offs. Keep dual 14 mm bands trimmed to 62–64 cm to maintain manageable recoil when shooting close quarters.
Queensland allows spearguns in tidal waters outside Green (no-take) zones but bans use in freshwater; Western Australia requires a recreational fishing from boat license when launching from vessels. Many GBRMPA zones forbid spearing of coral trout and Maori wrasse in specified conservation areas—check current zoning maps before entry.
Queensland Fisheries issues fines up to AUD 1,437 for take of regulated coral reef fin fish during closed seasons, and AUD 4,130 for using prohibited gear in marine parks. In the Northern Territory, a Recreational Fishing License is generally not required, but Aboriginal Land permits are mandatory for access to tidal rivers and some offshore islands, with infringements exceeding AUD 1,000.
New South Wales requires a Recreational Fishing Fee (currently AUD 7/day, 35/3 months) and enforces on-the-spot penalties of AUD 500+ for exceeding snapper bag limits. Western Australia’s North Coast Bioregion imposes a two-barb limit on multihook rigs when targeting demersals; noncompliance can trigger fines above AUD 2,000.
Avoid capture of listed species such as humphead wrasse (Vulnerable under EPBC Act) and black teatfish sea cucumber (Bêche-de-mer closures) to prevent legal and ecological harm. Respect GBRMPA no-take zones like Ribbon Reefs coordinates 15°27.000’S 145°47.500’E to 15°34.000’S 145°52.500’E, where all extractive fishing is prohibited.
Use barbless hooks on catch-and-release for blue parrotfish that graze key algae, and deploy descending devices for barotrauma on coral trout caught deeper than 10 m. Log sightings of bleaching-sensitive corals (Acropora hyacinthus, Pocillopora damicornis) with Reef Check Australia to track habitat stress.
Yidinji and Gimuy peoples historically used woven vine fish traps in intertidal lagoons around Trinity Inlet circa pre-1800s, exploiting falling tides to concentrate reef fish. By the late 19th century, tin miners on Cape York described “monkey fishing” breath-hold methods in journals dated 1887–1891, noting use of smoke to flush fish from holes.
In the 1930s, Torres Strait Islanders refined wooden goggles and short harpoons for coral cave hunting, a precursor to modern mask-and-snorkel retrieval. The term “asphyxiation fishing” appeared in field notes from CSIRO surveys in the 1950s, highlighting risks of deoxygenating reef holes.
Follow guidelines from the Australian Underwater Federation (AUF) promoting selective take, immediate iki jime dispatch, and avoidance of spawning aggregations listed by month and location. Certification through the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) encourages chain-of-custody labeling for coral trout fisheries that meet stock sustainability benchmarks.
Recreational anglers can adopt the “Keep Fish Wet” protocols—limit air exposure under 10 seconds, support body weight horizontally, and avoid reef contact to reduce post-release mortality. Participate in citizen science via InfoFish’s FishNet II database, submitting precise length and GPS data to improve stock assessments.
Build a collapsible wire trap at 60 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm using 1.2 mm galvanized mesh with 25 mm squares to exclude juvenile reef fish. Fit a single funnel entrance at 10 cm diameter narrowing to 4 cm over 15 cm length to reduce escape of target wrasse.
Anchor with 1 kg lead strap and 5 mm polypropylene bridle; add 5 cm bait jar (perforated PVC film canister) loaded with crushed crab to draw scent without feeding. For micro-targets, shrink dimensions to 30 cm x 15 cm x 15 cm and reduce mesh to 12 mm to retain 8–12 cm gobies.
James Cook University’s 2021 survey across 18 GBR patch reefs recorded coral trout density declines of 22% after back-to-back bleaching, with mean size dropping from 48 cm to 42 cm. A 2019 CSIRO study (PLOS ONE, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0213356) measured nocturnal oxygen in reef crevices falling to 2.8 mg/L, correlating with increased shelter use by small serranids.
The Australian Institute of Marine Science long-term monitoring shows humphead wrasse sightings reduced by 40% in heavily fished reefs between Cairns and Townsville from 2005–2020. University of Queensland tagging projects report post-release survival of coral trout exceeding 90% when barbless hooks and rapid venting are employed.
Stable high pressure at 1018–1022 hPa with light SE trades (10–15 knots) keeps surge manageable and visibility high in 5–12 m reef zones for micro and spear methods. Low-pressure troughs (<1008 hPa) combined with king tides (2.7–3.1 m) can push sediment into holes, reducing oxygen and moving fish to outer ledges during the first two hours of ebb.
Plan sets around solunar majors near moonrise and moonset; on full moon phases, reef predators feed more at night, leaving dawn windows quieter for collecting baitfish. Track BOM tide tables—mid-morning making tides after neap cycles often give the best blend of clarity and current for asphyxiation retrievals in shallow bommie caves.
While asphyxiation fishing might be a part of some cultures’ historical fishing practices, it’s essential to be aware of its impact on the animals and the environment. Exploring alternative techniques can ensure sustainable and ethical fishing endeavors, allowing both the fish and the reef ecosystem to thrive.
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