Catch of the Day

oysters - Cocagne, Gondwana Studio, 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.

Seabream [fish]

Pachymetopon blochii

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

Other Common Names

Hottentot/Hottentot Seabream (RSA), Sargo Hotentote (Spain)

Other Scientific Names

Pachymetopon canescens, Caranthus blochii, Cantharus castelnau

Etymology

Pachymetopon - Meaning it has a thick forehead
blochii - Named after the renowned ichthyologist, Bloch.
Hottentot is a name that is given to this fish, because of its availability to the early settlers of Hottentots Holland.

Features

The Hottentot has a small mouth with five rows of incisors in each jaw.
The overall body colocration is dark - grey to bluish, with a golden - green sheen on the back and a white belly.

Size : 35 cm | Weight : 1.1 kg

Ecology

Commonly found in kelp beds, but also known to predominate shallow and deep water reefs. Their main diet consists of a variety of seaweeds, but they also feed on shrimps, amphipods, anchovies and polychaete worms.

Distribution

Occurs from Skeleton coast to Breede River on the South coast of SA, where it's caught with hand - lines from the vessels.

Regulation

Minimum legal size - 22cm
Bag limit for recreational fishing - 10 per person.