Campbell’s Cracker

Neil Campbell on the South Coast caught this Black Steenbras by mistake whilst fishing for Cape Yellowtail deep off Hibberdene. It won him the bottom fish prize in the competition he was fishing in. Weighing in at 25kg’s – this is a nice Poenskop, Mussellcracker or Black Steenbras – three of the names it goes by. Cymatoceps nasutus is it’s scientific name. An endemic species – we only get them off Southern Africa, and they get to 40kg’s!

A few websites with more information…

http://www.seaworld.org.za/species/entry/black-musselcracker

http://www.wwfsassi.co.za/?m=5&s=5&idkey=880

http://www.aquarium.co.za/species_exhibits/browse_species/black_musselcracker_poenskop/

It is a protected species and cannot be bought or sold, but is highly sought after as a table fish.