
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.