Description
It has an elongated fusiform (spindle-shaped) body and a broad, flattened head. The eyes are small and the lower jaw projects slightly past the upper. Fibrous villiform teeth line the jaws, the tongue, and the roof of the mouth. The body of the fish is smooth with small scales. It is dark brown in colour, grading to white on the belly with two darker brown horizontal bands on the flanks. The stripes are more prominent during spawning, when they darken and the background colour lightens.
Size
Maximum length: 200 cm (TL), common length: 90-110 cm (TL)
Diet
Feed on crabs, fishes, and squids
Utilization
Caught in small quantities due to its solitary behaviour. Good food fish; marketed fresh, smoked, and frozen
Gears
Gillnet, trawl, hook and line