sweetest eating fish in the south

Size
Length: 40–60 cm, Weight: 1–3 kg
Lifespan
10–15 years
Diet
Small fish, crabs and other crustaceans. Lives on rocky reefs and sandy bottoms from the shallows down to 150 metres. A bottom-dweller, often found near structure.
Habitat
Rocky reefs and sandy floors from the shallows down to about 150 metres. If you have fished the Marlborough Sounds or the coast of Otago, you have pulled up a blue cod.
Range
South Island and southern North Island, particularly in the Marlborough Sounds, Otago and Southland coasts. Most common on rocky reefs and sandy bottoms from the shallows down to 150 metres.
Endemism
Endemic
Main Threats
Overfishing is the primary threat, with strict catch limits and size restrictions now in place. Habitat loss from coastal development and sedimentation from land clearance.
Population
At Risk - Declining. The classic fish and chip shop favourite of the South Island is under real pressure. Strict catch limits and size restrictions are now in place, but the big breeding females are getting harder to find.
Conservation Status
At Risk - Declining
The pretty boy of the bottom. It is the fish that poses for photos. Despite the name, blue cod colour ranges from electric blue to a dull muddy greenish-brown. This depends on mood and surroundings. Males are the show-offs. They display that vibrant blue to attract females and warn off rivals. Females keep things subtle in softer sandier tones for camouflage. A fish that changes its look depending on who is watching. Curious and bold. Unlike the shy, skittish snapper, a blue cod will swim right up to a diver to see what is going on. This curiosity gets them into trouble with spearfishers. Every blue cod is born female. As they grow and gain confidence, the largest and most dominant individuals change sex to become breeding males. This ensures the biggest, toughest fish are the ones passing on their genes. A fish that can become what the reef needs. They are greedy eaters. They hoover up crabs, mussels, small fish and even bits of old bait floating around. The body is thick and chunky. It is built for short powerful bursts rather than long chases. They hide in crevices and under ledges. They wait for dinner to swim past. Not a sprinter. An ambusher. To catch a blue cod is to catch a piece of South Island summer. It is a beautiful, curious fish that is running out of time to be curious. The fish defines the South Island fishing experience. It is the fish that grandparents talk about catching by the bucket-load. This was back when the Sounds were quieter and the cod were bigger. The diver drops down. The blue cod swims up. Blue and green and curious. The spear is raised. The fish does not swim away. It does not know that curiosity kills. It just wants to see. In Māori tradition, the Raawaru was a staple of the southern tribes. Its name is sometimes used to describe someone who is flashy or dressed up. This is a nod to the male's brilliant breeding colours. The blue cod was often preserved by smoking or drying. This provided essential protein through the cold southern winters. Today it remains the fish that defines the South Island fishing experience. It is the fish your granddad talks about catching by the bucket-load. Back when the Sounds were quieter and the cod were bigger.