Search
Biscuit skate
Biscuit skates occur in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. They can be found in sandy and muddy areas to depths of 700m.
These fish are often caught as by-catch in offshore demersal hake fishery nets. The fishery uses trawl nets which are dragged behind the boat on the ocean floor at depths from 110 - 800 m.
Biscuit skates feed mainly on invertebrates and fish.
SASSI status: Orange
East coast sole
Soles have compressed, asymmetrical bodies with both eyes on the same side of the head. They are found in temperate and tropical oceans around the world. There are about 13 known species of sole in southern African waters.
Evileye pufferfish
Evileye puffers are found in the Indo-West Pacific, mainly along continental shores from Maputo to False Bay.
Round moony (natal moony)
Adult moonies live in rivers, estuaries and harbours whereas juveniles are common in freshwater or estuaries, in seagrass or algae beds.
Cape moony (oval moony)
Moonies are at home in fresh water and salt water.
Leopard catshark
The leopard catshark is part of the catshark family and is endemic to the South African coast. They got their name because of their leopard-like dark spots.
Maasbanker (horse mackerel)
Maasbanker occur in large shoals and are trawled from the ocean depths during the day.
White stumpnose
White stumpnose are an endemic southern African coastal species found in large shoals.
Dageraad
Ichthyologist Margaret Smith said that, when adult dageraad die, they are ‘the most beautiful of all creatures, as waves of different colours pass over the body’. ‘Dageraad’ is Dutch for ‘dawn’.
Spotted gully shark
The spotted gully shark is a small grey-brown shark covered in small, irregularly spaced black spots which become more prominent as the shark ages.
Yellowbelly rockcod
Large adults have been spotted in the deep canyons off Sodwana Bay where coelacanths were found. Slow-growing fish and can live up to 24 years.
Red steenbras (copper steenbras)
Many fishermen have stories to tell about this species. Red steenbras is one of the most popular species amongst anglers because it can be caught on just about any bait and puts up a good fight.