IDENTIFICATION
Garrick are part of the kingfish family. They are large and elongate with a slightly pointed snout. They are silver in colour with a white belly and dusky to blue grey flank, dorsal area and fins.
Juveniles less than 10 cm in length have orange-yellow and black crossbands. The mouth has many bands of very fine teeth which feel like sandpaper. The wavy lateral line is conspicuous on the flanks.

DISTRIBUTION
Garrick occur along the entire South African coast from Kosi Bay around the Cape and up the west coast of Africa and in the Mediterranean. It is a coastal species occurring to a depth of about 50 m but prefers the surf zone.

FEEDING
Garrick often form small shoals which hunt behind the backline off beaches and rocky points. It is an aggressive predator showing preference for shad, karanteen and pinkies. Garrick have been known to trap a shoal of bait fish in a gully and systematically eat them.

REPRODUCTION
Garrick migrate to KwaZulu-Natal from the Cape in winter and back to the Cape in summer. Migrations also coincide with the annual sardine run. Sexual maturity is reached at a fork length of 80 cm and spawning occurs off the KwaZulu-Natal coast. The eggs and larvae are distributed southwards inshore of the Agulhas Current to the estuaries in the Eastern and Southern Cape.

GROWTH
Garrick can attain a size of 180 cm and a maximum mass of 32 kg.

FISHERY
Garrick are a popular and highly sought after gamefish which are commonly caught by shore anglers. Skiboat anglers also target this species during winter and spring. Their arrival on the KwaZulu-Natal coast usually coincides with the onset of the sardine run and many are caught by anglers during this frenzy. Live bait, fresh sardines, spoons and top water plugs are the most popular means of catching this fish. Garrick are easy targets for spearfishermen due to their size, inquisitiveness and shallow water habitat.

STATUS
Garrick are vulnerable to capture and are coming under increasing pressure from anglers and spearfishermen.

MANAGEMENT
• Garrick are classified as recreational species.
• Minimum capture size is 70 cm total length.
• Daily bag limit is 2 fish per person.
• No sale of this species is permitted.

Rudy van der Elst and Bruce Mann are acknowledged for the scientific information on which this publication is based.