Average Length 60-100cmAverage weight 1.5kg
Occurs around New Zealand and Southern Australia with a similar species around South America. Blue-green above, silvery on sides and belly, dark fins, smooth skin, large and easily disloged scales.
Related to hake. Sometimes referred to as blue grenadier but not related to the grenadiers or rattails. Distinguished from the smaller javelin fish by pointed snout, smaller eye and silver belly. A deep water fish, but ranges from 5-900m. Most abundant around the South Island in 200-800m but also occurs around the North Island and New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic Islands. Caught mainly by trawling. Taken all year round with a number of seasonal fisheries in different parts of the EEZ and a major winter fishery, June September, on spawning fish off the west coast of the South Island. A very large resource, probably capable of yielding at least 200,000 tonnes per annum.
