Southern Sea Garfish

Hyporhamphus melanochir, or Southern garfish or (in Australia) garfish, is a halfbeak garfish from the family Hemiramphidae. It is found in southern Australian and New Zealand waters. It is a very popular fish for recreational fishing and eating in Australia, where it is referred to simply as 'garfish' or 'gar'.

Description

A common pale greenish garfish with a broad silvery stripe along the midside, a white belly, a reddish tip on the lower jaw, and a broad dusky margin on the caudal fin.

Dorsal fin 15-18; Anal fin 17-20; Caudal fin 15; Pectoral fin 11-13; Pelvic fin 6; Lateral line scales 52-57; Gill rakers (1st arch) 27-35 (2nd arch) 22-29. Body very long and slender; lower jaw long slender, bill-like, upper jaw short; dorsal and anal fins short-based near the tail; lower lobe of tail fin longer than the upper.

Distribution

Eden, New South Wales (and possibly further north), to at least Perth, Western Australia. Pelagic near eel-grass beds in estuaries, rivers and coastal lakes.