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Other
names:
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garrick, leervis
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Scientific
name:
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Lichia
amia
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Genus:
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CARANGIDAE
FAMILY
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It is found throughout the Mediterranean Sea and in the eastern
Atlantic Ocean along the entire coasts of the Iberian Peninsula and western
Africa to the Cape, then north along the eastern African coast to Delagoa
Bay (Maputo).
It is a coastal species forming
small schools in the surf zone off beaches and rocky promontories. The
leerfish is seasonally migratory, some populations moving south
to the Cape in summer and north to Natal in winter, possibly following
the sardine run which occurs at the same time.
Unlike many members of the family, however, the leerfish has short pectoral
fins and no scutes. Overall this is a silvery fish with a leathery, scaleless
appearance, though in fact it does possess minute embedded scales. The
back is dusky to brown or blue-pay, and the lower surface of the belly
is white. The fin lobes may be black or dusky-tipped. Juveniles less than
4 in (10 cm) long have orangish to brownish-black bars on the sides.
The leerfish is a highly-rated sport fish that can be caught by angling
from the rocks or share. It takes both live baits, such as mullets or
sardines, and lures with zeal. Bluefish (elf) are one of its favorite
foods as it aggressively forages along the coasts, and it is not uncommon
to see leerfish pursuing mullet on the surface.
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