Spotted Grunter (Pomadasys commersonni) South Africa's Supreme Sport Fish

South Africa's Beautiful And Popular Spotted Grunter Fish

The Spotted Grunter is one of the most well known of South Africa's saltwater fish species and is arguably one of the most fished for off the shore! The Spotted Grunter is also known as the Small Spotted Grunt and the Javelin Fish and is found all the way from Mozambique to Cape Town on the Southern African coast line. The South African angling record for this gorgeous fish is almost 10 kilograms. The Javelin Fish can also reach a length of up to 80 centimeters. The minimum legal size for this fish to be taken out of the water and kept to eat is 40 centimeters.

The Spotted Grunter or Javelin Fish can be found in many different environments such as: Shallow coastal waters, calm waters around rocky areas, muddy bottoms, sheltered estuaries and the brackish waters of estuaries. The Spotted Grunter can tolerate fresh water and feeds by blowing water and sand through the mouth to flush out their prey. Prey includes marine worms, crabs, cracker shrimp, sealice and of course mud prawn. The Spotted Grunter is a Summer fish and is most abundant when the water temperatures rise in the Summer months...

The Spotted Grunter is dependant on estuaries to bring up their young and any pollution or siltation causes a lot of harm to this particular species of grunter. The Spotted grunter is a very nice eating fish and is sought after for this reason. St. Lucia is probably South Africa's home of the Spotted Grunter as they are very common in this region and an annual event called the Grunter Run happens here.

How To Catch South Africa's Spotted Grunter

The Spotted Grunter can be a very fussy fish and some days will just not bite, no matter what you throw at it. The best tackle to handle the Spotted Grunter would be an 8-10 foot rod, coffee grinder reel (A 40 or 45) and at least 10 pound line, I would go with no less than 15 pound though. A number 10 hook, a 1/0 or a 2/0 should be used to catch Spotted Grunter with Mud Prawn and Pink Prawn being the best baits. Shrimp and squid also works but not as well. Dropshot is also becoming a popular way of targeting the spotted grunter with the worm, mole crab and shrimp plastic imitations producing the most action. Good luck when targeting the Spotted Grunter (Javelin Fish) and just remember perseverance pays off!

Summary Of Information On The Spotted Grunter

Common Name: Spotted Grunter...

Other Names: Javelin Fish, Small Spotted Grunt...

Scientific Name: Pomadasys commersonnil...

Favoured Habitat: Warm waters of estuaries and close to river mouths, sheltered sandy beaches...

Distribution: Found from tip of Africa to Cape Agulhas...

Bait: Caught on sardine (pilchard), or squid, but Mud Prawn works the best...

Fishing Strategy: Good fighting fish. Will make a grunting noise when caught and taken out of the water. Hence the name "Grunter"...

Eating Quality: Tasty table fish...

Tackle Required :10lb line, 10 foot rod, 1/0 or 2/0 hook...

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