IDENTIFICATION Squaretail kob have an elongated body and a silvery colouration with a slightly bluish sheen on the upper flanks and dorsal surface. They reach a maximum size of 120 cm or 14 kg.
DISTRIBUTION This fish has been recorded from Mozambique to the Eastern Cape, but along the KwaZulu-Natal coast they occur primarily from Salt Rock to Richards Bay (Tugela Banks). Adults congregate in large shoals around deep reefs and pinnacles, while juveniles are found in the shallower water on soft substrata. They seldom venture near the shore or into estuaries.
FEEDING Squaretail kob are mainly predators of small, bottom dwelling fish, but will feed opportunistically on other organisms such as prawns and squid. The young feed on crustaceans.
REPRODUCTION Sexual maturity is reached at about 35 cm total length. Spawning occurs during winter and spring (August to October).
GROWTH They reach maximum size of about 14 kg and a maximum age of more than 10 years. The age at maturity is about 3 years.
FISHERY Both commercial and recreational skiboats as well as prawn trawlers operating on the Tugela Banks catch squaretail kob in significant quantities. The estimated annual catch of squaretail kob was 8 ton by trawlers, 95 ton by commercial skiboats and 3 ton by recreational skiboats during the years 1989 to 1992. Most fish caught by the skiboat fishery measure between 30 cm and 60 cm total length. Squaretail kob became increasingly important to the linefishery on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast as other target linefish species are now depleted. Catches of squaretail kob have decreased considerably since 1993 and a total commercial catch of only 8 tons was reported in 1996.
