Bight Redfish, Centroberyx gerrardi (Günther 1887)

Other Names: Golden Snapper, King Snapper, Nannygai, Red Snapper, Redfish, Redfish Nannygai

Summary:

A large silvery-red Redfish, with red stripes along the sides separated by narrow silvery-white lines, a white lateral line, a reddish head with a white vertical band on the gill cover, a red eye, and white leading edges on the fins.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2017, Centroberyx gerrardi in Fishes of Australia, accessed 19 Jan 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3743

Bight Redfish, Centroberyx gerrardi (Günther 1887)

More Info

Distribution	Endemic to temperate waters of southern Australia, from Jervis Bay (New South Wales) to off Lancelin (Western Australia). The Bight Redfish is benthopelagic on deeper offshore reefs, rocky outcrops and pinnacles at depths of 11-260 metres (rarely below 200 m). The species is either solitary or occurs in pairs within caves and beneath ledges and overhangs.
Features	Dorsal fin VI, 12-13; Anal fin IV, 12-13; Caudal fin 19; Pectoral fin 13-14; Pelvic fin I, 7; Lateral line scales 36-39; Scales between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line 6-7. Body short, deep (approx. 50% SL), strongly compressed. Head large (approx. 40% SL), with coarsely serrated bony ridges on preopercle and opercle; eyes very large (36-40% HL); mouth large, oblique, reaching past centre of eye; teeth minute, broad band in upper jaw, narrow band in lower; operculum with serrated bony border. Scales of moderate size, distinctly ctenoid, covering body and in vertical patches anteriorly on opercle and lower part of preopercle; lateral line straight. Single dorsal fin of moderate length, positioned centrally on back with spines lengthening evenly posteriorly, first few soft rays progressively longer, subsequent rays decreasing abruptly posteriorly; anal fin similar to and opposite soft part of dorsal fin, ending slightly beyond posterior end of dorsal-fin base; caudal fin deeply forked. Pectoral fins long, pointed, upper rays longest. Pelvic fins pointed.
Biology	One individual caught off Albany, Western Australia, was found to be 84 years old based on a count of the annual growth rings on the otoliths.
Fisheries	A highly regarded table fish is fishes with hook and line over prominent ledges, rocky outcrops, pinnacles, and deeper reefs, usually in depths of 30-60m. For information on humanely killing Bight Redfish check out the ikijime website. The eating qualities of Bight Redfish is greatly improved by killing them immediately by iki jime, or by a firm knock to the head before placing them in an ice slurry. http://www.ikijime.com/fish/bight-redfish/
Species Citation	Beryx gerrardi Günther 1887, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. Ser. 5, 10: 238. Type locality: Adelaide, South Australia.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2017
Resources	Australian Faunal Directory

Bight Redfish, Centroberyx gerrardi (Günther 1887)

References

Coleman, N. 1980. Australian Sea Fishes South of 30ºS. Lane Cove, NSW : Doubleday Australia Pty Ltd 309 pp.(as Trachichthodes gerrardi)

Grant, E.M. 2002. Guide to Fishes. Redcliffe : EM Grant Pty Ltd 880 pp.

Günther, A. 1887. On Australian fishes of the genus Beryx. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 5 20(27): 237-239 2 figs

Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp.

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp.

Kuiter, R.H. 1994. Family Berycidae. pp. 392-398 figs 352-357 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs.

McCulloch, A.R. 1911. Report on the fishes obtained by the F.I.S. Endeavour on the coasts of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Part 1. Zoological (Biological) Results. Endeavour 1(1): 1-87 figs 1-20 pls 1-16 (as Austroberyx gerrardi)

McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part I. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 1–144 (as Trachichthodes gerrardi)

Roberts, C.D. & Gomon, M.F. 2008. Family Berycidae. pp. 415-419 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & Ward, R.D. (eds). 1999. Australian Seafood Handbook. Hobart : CSIRO Marine Research 460 pp.