Catch of the Day

mussels local half shell - Gordon's Bay Fisheries, Gordon's Bay, Western Cape, Helderberg, South Africa [© 2010 Paul Godard]

FISH & SEAFOOD : FRESH OR FROZEN

Gordon’s Bay Fisheries is a proud supplier of fresh fish as well as fresh and frozen seafood products.

Santer [fish]

Cheimerius nufar

rock in waves - Buffalo Beach, Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa [© 2007 paulgodard.com]

Other Common Names

Soldier/santer seabream (RSA), Denté Nufar (France), Dentón Nufar (Spain)

Other Scientific Names

Dentex nufar, Dentex albus, Dentex miles

Etymology

Cheimerius - Sign of storm
nufar - meaning obscure

Features

Santer is oval shaped with an overall silvery coloration, shaded with light pink on the top and a lighter belly. They also have ± 5 dark vertical crossbars on the side of the body. The Santer has a pointed mouth with 4-6 canines and several rows of conical teeth.

Size : 35 cm | Weight : 1 kg

Ecology

Adults are generally found around reef areas and near rocky bottoms, where as the juveniles prefer to stay in sheltered bays or more likely estuaries. Their diet includes other small reef fish, squid and planktonic crustaceans.

Distribution

Found in the strong Agulhas current from Knysna all the way up to Mozambique, where they are caught by hand - lines from vessels.
They are only caught in rough seas, hence their species name Cheimerius, meaning sign of storm.

Regulation

Minimum legal size - 30cm in length
Bag limit for recreational fishing - 5 per person.