washes up silver and stiff in winter

Size
Length: 80–120 cm, Weight: 1–3 kg
Lifespan
8–12 years
Diet
Carnivorous feeder on small fish, squid and crustaceans. Hunts in mid-water using long, ribbon-like body. Attacks with fast, sideways slash of sharp-toothed mouth. Feeds throughout water column near surface at night.
Habitat
Inhabits sandy and muddy bottoms from shallow waters down to 200 metres depth. Often buries itself in sand during day. Emerges at night to hunt near surface. Prefers sheltered bays and harbours.
Range
Found in coastal waters of North and South Islands from Northland to Stewart Island. Most common off sandy beaches and in harbours. Also found in Australia, South Africa and South America regions.
Endemism
Native
Main Threats
Bycatch in set nets, bottom trawls and beach seines is primary threat. Also threatened by recreational fishing pressure in some areas. Habitat disturbance from coastal development and climate change affect near-shore temperatures.
Population
Populations considered stable across most of species range. Popular target for recreational fishers fishing from beaches and wharves at night. No formal stock assessment exists. Localised declines may occur in heavily fished harbours.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
Long, silver ribbon of a fish that glows like moonlight in dark water. A fish that comes with the frost. It buries itself in the sand during the day. At night, it emerges to hunt near the surface. Its name comes from its habit of appearing in shallow waters during cold winter months. The Māori names Hikau, Paara and Taharangi reflect regional traditions. They also refer to the fish's shimmering, elusive nature. A fish that is a winter ghost. The appearance is seasonal. The timing is predictable. The body is elongated and ribbon-like. It is compressed from side to side. The skin is silvery. A bluish or greenish sheen adds to the effect. The mouth is large. It is filled with sharp, fang-like teeth. The eyes are large. They are adapted to low light. The dorsal fin runs the entire length of the back. The morphology supports the lifestyle. Flexibility aids movement. Teeth secure the catch. Camouflage hides the predator. Days are spent buried in the sand. Only the eyes are exposed. Breathing happens by drawing water in through the mouth. It is expelled through the gills. The fish can remain buried for hours. It waits for night. The patience is absolute. The stillness is total. The anticipation builds. The darkness brings activity. Night brings emergence. Hunting happens near the surface. It swims using its ribbon-like body. It slashes sideways through schools of small fish. Sharp teeth grab and hold slippery prey. The attack is sudden. The motion is lateral. The result is immediate. The meal is secured. The cycle repeats with the tide. The name reflects the season. Fishers would find them frost-covered on the beach after a cold night. The fish were often preserved by freezing. Hence the name. The tradition is practical. The method is simple. The preservation is effective. The cold aids the process. The frost marks the catch. Not targeted by commercial fisheries. It is a popular target for recreational fishers. They fish from beaches and wharves at night. The winter beach is cold. The frostfish glows like moonlight. A silver ribbon in the dark water. The line drops. The fish strikes. It is caught. It does not know it is a winter ghost. It does not know it is frost-covered. It just wanted to eat a pilchard. A fish of the winter nights. Of the cold beaches. Of the frost-covered sand. The frostfish is proof. It carries on in the shallows. Unseen by the casual observer. But prized by those who know. It remains in the sand. A testament to the intact bay. A relic of the wild shore. It waits for the tide. Or it does not. The choice is tidal. The outcome is certain. The fish persists.