Focus species

Movement: A recent study has identified that this species is likely to be a temporary resident on shallow inshore reefs. Catface rockcod show high residency and occupy relatively small home ranges (a few 100 m2 in extent) for short periods often less than 12 months, whereafter they abandon their home ranges and make ranging-type movements in search of new habitat. Adults >400 mm are more mobile than juveniles, with distance moved increasing with fish size. There are anecdotal reports that they form spawning aggregations, suggesting that they may migrate for this purpose.

Total number tagged: 3 973

Number recaptured: 946 (24%)

Longest time free: 2 867 days or 7.9 years (1992 – 2000)

Longest distance moved: 525 km (Bats Cave [Mission Rocks, KZN] to Praia do Xai Xai, Mozambique)

Growth: They mature at 43 – 49 cm total length (TL) at an age of 3 – 4 years. Generally, males mature earlier than females, and some females may change sex to male.

Max size: 87 cm TL; 9 kg

Max age: 11 years

Breeding season: Spring to Summer (September to February)

Breeding location: In the northern parts of their distribution. There is little evidence of spawning south of Durban.

Feeding: They feed on crustaceans, small fish and squid.

Distribution: Endemic to the eastern seaboard of southern Africa, found from Quissico in southern Mozambique to Knysna in the Western Cape. However, some individuals have recently been caught as far south as the De Hoop Marine Protected Area.

IUCN Red List status: Near Threatened (2018)

SASSI List: Orange (think twice)

Recent Publications:

Mann BQ, Daly R, Jordaan GL, Dalton WN, Fennessy ST. 2022. Movement behaviour of catface rockcod Mycteroperca (Epinephelus) andersoni (Epinephelidae) off the eastern seaboard of southern Africa. African Journal of Marine Science 44(2): 125-137. https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2022.2064548

Francois Johann van der Merwe with a 44 cm TL catface rockcod that he tagged and recaptured six days later off Umdloti, KZN.