Mate Pearlies are one of the best-eating fish out there, I guess it's all subjective but for fish I have caught up your way, Pearlies, John Dory and Mangrove Jacks would have to fight it out for best eating, toss in Bar Cod and Blue-Eye Trevalla if you can dodge the nor'easter and get out wide.
Hehe I have had a Wobbegong latch onto me, also a Grinner.....lol so many teeth, had to cut its head off and pry the jaw open to release it. A mate of mine had a Hairtail break its teeth off into his hand down the Hawkesbury, the same guy got spiked in the leg by a small Black Marlin one time with me at Hat Head!
I like trout when they are small, Ill panfry the little 1lb ones with some bacon, lemon and butter, but the bigger ones can get a bit gamey, this time of the year they are full of hormones and not real good on the plate, I tend to smoke the bigger ones if I don't release them, sometimes even a small fly can rip their guts out if they swallow it.
Anyway congrats on those fish, very impressive from a kayak.
Stay safe! I'll have to tell you about the Hammerhead I hooked off Grassy Head that dragged the boat over the course of 3 hours almost to Nambucca.........