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iki jime Fish Finder
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Also known as:

Ladyfish

Hawaiian giant herring

Hawaiian ladyfish

Banana fish

Pincushion-fish

Tenpounder

Torres Strait herring

Common Group Name:

Tarpons and Ladyfishes

Family Name:

Order Elopiformes

Genus Name:

Elops

Species Name:

Elops hawaiensis


Dispatch Method:

Giant herring are very bony and considered to be a poor eating fish, but a good sportfish that is mostly released. Their eating qualities can be improved if they are killed immediately by iki jime or a firm knock to the head before placing them in an ice slurry after bleeding.


Fish Description:

  • Giant herring are long and slender, blue to greenish dorsally grading to silver along the flanks with a single dorsal fin, large forked tail, large eye and underslung mouth.
  • Like eels, giant herring have a transparent leptocephalus larvae that drifts into shallow coastal waters and estuaries where they develop to maturity.

Fish Distribution:

  • This species occurs in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific, including northern Australia.
  • In Australia they migrate seasonally to southern Australian states as far south as Victoria and South Australia during the summer months.
  • They inhabit coastal bays, harbours and estuaries, occasionally entering freshwater.

Fish Size Common Length:

40-60 cm, maximum size around 120 cm.