silver trevally, schools the open coast

Size
Length: 40–60 cm, Weight: 2–5 kg
Lifespan
15–20 years
Diet
Feeds on small fish, squid and crustaceans. Also consumes sea urchins, using strong blunt teeth to crush shells. Lives on rocky reefs, sandy patches and edges of drop-offs from shallows to 100 metres.
Habitat
Inhabits the reef edge. Rocky reefs, sandy patches and edges of drop-offs from shallows down to about 100 metres. The fish seen hovering in clear water behind the breakers. Prefers structured environments.
Range
Found throughout North and South Islands on rocky reefs, sandy patches and drop-offs. Most common in shallow to moderate depths from shallows down to 100 metres. Also found in Australia and Pacific.
Endemism
Native
Main Threats
Commercial and recreational overfishing impacts populations. Bycatch in trawl fisheries occurs. Habitat loss from coastal development affects local stocks. Climate change affects water temperature and prey distribution patterns.
Population
Not Threatened. Common throughout New Zealand and popular target for spearfishers and light-tackle anglers. Populations are stable, though really big, old fish are becoming rare due to fishing pressure.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
A silver ghost hovering at the reef edge. This is a fish that keeps the kelp forests alive. The trevally has a deep, compressed body. A steep forehead and a forked tail are built for sudden acceleration. The colour is brilliant metallic silver-blue on the back. It fades to a clean white belly. When they are feeding hard, faint vertical bars appear along their sides. This is a sign of excitement. It tells other trevallies that dinner is on. A fish that signals its mood. These fish are pack hunters with a sweet tooth. Though sweet is not quite right. They have a taste for sea urchins. Their teeth are strong and blunt. They are perfect for crushing hard shells. This makes them a valuable part of the reef ecosystem. Without trevally, urchin populations explode. They graze the reefs bare. With them, the kelp survives. A fish that keeps the whole system in balance. The ecological role is critical. The reef depends on it. Hook a trevally on light tackle and the reason why anglers love them will be understood. They take line. They circle the boat. They dive under the keel. They generally make a nuisance of themselves. Stubborn, hard-fighting and determined to win. They are also one of the best smoking fish in New Zealand. The firm, oily flesh takes on smoke beautifully. It turns into a rich golden fillet that falls apart in flakes. Smoke a trevally over manuka and something special has been made. The flavour is distinct. It is worth the effort. The Māori name Araara refers to the sound of a flock of birds. It is a nod to the noisy, splashing schools that feed on the surface. The comparison is apt. The noise is considerable. The movement is chaotic. It draws attention from afar. Today the trevally is the fish of the spearfisher. The reef is clear. The trevally school flashes silver. Vertical bars appear. The spearfisher aims. The fish is taken. It will be smoked over manuka. It does not know it keeps the kelp alive. It does not know it is a balance. It just wants to eat sea urchins. Populations are stable. But the really big, old fish are becoming rare. That is what happens when everyone wants a piece. Still abundant. Still delicious. Still worth chasing.