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This page under construction Watch for updates soon  GARDEN & VALLEY ISLE SEAFOOD, INC. |
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Identity Alternative New Zealand names include stoneye, bonita, brean, and Griffin's silverfish. Deepsea trevalla in Australia. Widley distributed in temperate waters of the Southern Hemisphere, including South Africa, Australasia, and southern South America. Bluish grey above, paling to metallic grey and silver on the sides and belly. Head with large eye and blunt snout. Distinguished from the related warehou species by a large mouth, more prominent first dorsal fin, and obvious scales. Average size 60-100 cm, reaching about 130 cm. |
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Life History Widely distributed around New Zealand and along the Chatham Rise. Usually present near rough ground on the outer shelf and upper slope, 100-150 m, but sometimes occuring, perhaps as small schools, over more open bottom. Such schools seem to comprise fish of a uniform size. Little is known of the biology of bluenose. Small juveniles are seldom bottom trawled and are probably pelagic above the shelf edge. The food of the bluenose is somewhat varied; fishes, crustaceans, and squid are eaten, but a major part of the diet comprises of small planktonic jellyfishes, all suggesting midwater or above-bottom feeding. Age and growth patterns are not known, but could be moderately fast, at least in the early stages. |
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Value An important commercial species for some coastal fishermen, taken predominantly by longline from the same areas and habitat as hapuku and bass, but often a little deeper. Also caught by trawl, sometimes on open ground, but usually near reefs. Catches increased rapidly from about 1980, but because recorded landings have been combined with two gropers the size and state of the fishery is unclear. Probably beyond the depth range of most anglers, although as a strong fish it would provide good sport. The flesh is firm and pinkish, becomming white on cooking; moist and succulent, similar to hapuku. |
