Went for a fish today and managed to catch a few yakkas that were delicious. First time I've tried them. I just went to throw the frames away and noticed them glowing in the dark. Has anyone ever noticed this before?
Difficult to see in the below pic I'm sorry.
It's from phosphorescent bacteria
The Vibrionaceae are a family of Proteobacteria given their own order, Vibrionales. Inhabitants of fresh or salt water, several species are pathogenic, including the type species Vibrio cholerae, which is the agent responsible for cholera. Most bioluminescent bacteria belong to this family, and are typically found as symbionts of deep-sea animals.
It's a common occurrence. In the trade it was always referred to "fire in the water". Always a problem when net fishing at night, fish would hit the net and the whole net would light up! Heading offshore to work in the middle of the night would often have the stern quarter wake glowing. If there was a pod of dolphins alongside the boat it was often spectacular. The dolphins visible normally might only appear to be half a dozen or so but when the water has fire the pod is always much larger because the others down deep were suddenly visible. They seem to take it in turns at the bow.
Select to expand quoteRamona said..
It's a common occurrence. In the trade it was always referred to "fire in the water". Always a problem when net fishing at night, fish would hit the net and the whole net would light up! Heading offshore to work in the middle of the night would often have the stern quarter wake glowing. If there was a pod of dolphins alongside the boat it was often spectacular. The dolphins visible normally might only appear to be half a dozen or so but when the water has fire the pod is always much larger because the others down deep were suddenly visible. They seem to take it in turns at the bow.
I've seen the dolphins doing this on the entry to Gabo isl after crossing Bass Strait and was pretty cool. Even woke the crew so they could see it. This glow was on the frames of fish after filleting though and I was surprised at how much glow 6 frames put out.
