Bare Island has some many different types of marine life that help make it so special. One of these are anglerfish. There are three different species of anglerfish that are regularly seen as well as a couple of other species that have been sighted on rare occasions. The anglerfish can be found basically anywhere around the island, but most I have seen have been on the Right Side of Bare Island.

The species we see are as follows:

The following are some photographs of these anglerfish, all taken at Bare Island. Some will show the same anglerfish as it grows.

BARE ISLAND ANGLERFISH

Porophryne erythrodactylus - Very hard to find due to camouflage and the fact they hide anywhere, even upsidedown. Only first found in the early 2000s at Bare Island by Roxanne Fea and Json Coombs. We called it the Bare Island anglerfish as that is where it was first found and recognised as a new species. Subsequently it was named red-fingered anglerfish but I prefer the original name we all gave it so I will only call it that.

Generally only found in Botany Bay and nearby reefs, but rumoured to have been seen further south of here. They seem to hang around in the one location for a short time and then move. Some have been known to come back after a year or more absence.

There are many colours, including grey, orange, yellow and more. They also seem to be able to change colours, as we have seen one that was orange and then later was yellow. Individuals can be recognised by the pattern of growths on them, especially around the mouth and eyes.

This Bare Island anglerfish was seen by me on 23 September 2020	Here is the same anglerfish, now orange, seen on 9 November 2021 Seen in same general location as before
This Bare Island anglerfish was seen a lot towards the end of 2022 on or near Block Rock. This was taken 13 December 2022.	This is the same one as at left taken the next day 14 December 2022. It now has eggs visible between its foot and tail.
The same grey angler as above on 12 January 2023. Now about 10 metres away from above.	Again, the same grey angler on 4 February 2023 in a different spot again about 10 metres away from left

STRIPED/STRIATED ANGLERFISH

Antennarius striatus - much more common and easier to find, come in many colours including brown, black and yellow. These are quite variable in size, from small ones about 150 mm long to big fat ones 250 mm long. In recent years we have been seeing a lot in late summer through to late autumn.

Painted anglerfish seen 16 March 2023	The same painted anglerfish seen 30 March 2023 You can see the pattern is the same on both
Painted anglerfish seen 16 March 2023	The same painted anglerfish seen 5 April 2023
Painted anglerfish seen 31 March 2023	Painted anglerfish seen 5 April 2023
Painted anglerfish seen 6 April 2023	Painted anglerfish seen 16 April 2023
Painted anglerfish seen 30 March 2023	Painted anglerfish seen 19 April 2023

PAINTED ANGLERFISH

Antennarius pictus - most of the ones we see are tiny babies, starting from 3 mm in length. The colours are mostly orange for baby ones but adults can be other colours including black. We see far more tiny ones than adults. These tend to be on the sides of rocks or walls rather than flat on the top.

I first saw this tiny painted anglerfish on 18 June 2023, then a number of times in July and August. It was about 5-7 mm long Was near the Cave	The same anglerfish on 9 January 2024 Seen near Block Rock
Another photo of the painted anglerfish, 30 January 2024 Has moved a few metres to outside the Cave	The same anglerfish on 8 March 2024 Now on between Cave and Opera House Rocks
This tiny painted anglerfish was seen on 9 November 2021	The same anglerfish, a few days later on 19 November 2021 Seen in exact same spot
Another photo of the painted anglerfish, 29 December 2021, markings more prominent now Has moved a few metres to another rock	The same anglerfish, on 13 January 2022, 300 mm long and more prominent markings Now on top of the rock rather than the side
This tiny painted anglerfish was found by me on 9 November 2021	The same anglerfish, a bit bigger, seen on 10 December 2021 Seen in exact same spot
This tiny painted anglerfish was seen on 20 April 2020	Another anglerfish seen on 9 May 2020
This tiny painted anglerfish was first seen on 26 August 2020	The same anglerfish, a bit bigger, seen on 7 October 2020 Seen in exact same spot
The same tiny painted anglerfish as above two photos, 5 January 2021	The same anglerfish, a fair bit bigger than the first photo, 12 January 2021 Still in exact same spot
Small painted anglerfish seen 30 March 2023	Perhaps the same painted anglerfish as at left, 7 April 2023
Tiny painted anglerfish seen 29 April 2023	A much grown painted anglerfish 5 August 2023, not sure which one it was originally

SUMMARY

For more information about the dives, go to the Bare Island Dives index.