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🌊 Marine 🍽️ Edible 🎣 Game Fish 🌡️ Temperate

gamefish

Colistium guentheri Hutton, 1873
🍽️ Seafood Guide 👩‍🍳 Recipes ← All Species
Max Length
91.4 cm
Max Weight
1.8 kg
Lifespan
21 yrs
Trophic Level
3.1
Depth
27–49 m
Climate
Temperate
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
58.00/100
Typical Length
90 cm
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Inhabits shallow waters, generally at depth of less than 50 m. Juveniles gather in sheltered inshore waters, such as estuarine areas, shallow mudflats and sandflats, where they remain for up to two years .

Scientific Name
Colistium guentheri
Authority
Hutton, 1873
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Temperate
Max Length
91.4 cm
Max Weight
1.8 kg
Lifespan
21 years
Depth Range
27–49 m
Trophic Level
3.1
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
58.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Physical description for gamefish is currently being compiled.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for gamefish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range 27 - 49 m . Temperate Southwest Pacific: New Zealand.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
3.1±0.3

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01778 × L2.97 (TL)
Max TL
91.4cm
Max Weight
1,800g

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
58.00/100
High vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.1
Predator
Climate Zone
Temperate
Described By
Hutton, 1873

🎣 Angling Guide

Difficulty
Beginner
Fight Rating
strong pulls with head-shakes
Best Seasons
spring,summer,fall
Best Time
incoming tide, dawn and dusk
Line Weight
15-30
Rod Type
medium-heavy spinning
Hook Size
2/0-5/0
Catch & Release
✓ Recommended
Best Months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Techniques
bottom fishing popping cork soft plastics live bait
Bait & Lures
live shrimp cut mullet soft plastic paddle-tails popping corks
Recommended Tackle
  • medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
  • 30-50 lb braid
  • fluorocarbon leader
Where to Find Them
  • grass flats
  • oyster bars
  • marsh drains
  • deeper channel edges
Tips & Tricks
Popping cork technique attracts fish from distance. Fish moving tides.
Catch & Release Tips

Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.

Regulations Summary

⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Colistium Guentheri is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Detailed nutritional data for gamefish is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for gamefish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (lean white fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy90 kcal
Moisture80 %
Protein18 %
Total Fat1.2 %
Ash1.2 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat0.3 g
Monounsaturated Fat0.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat0.4 g
Omega-3 Total0.3 g
EPA0.08 g
DHA0.15 g
Omega-6 Total0.05 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium18 mg
Iron0.4 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus200 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium60 mg
Zinc0.4 mg
Selenium30 µg
Vitamin B60.3 mg
Vitamin B121 µg

👥 Community & Contribute

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🍽️
Seafood Guide
gamefish: Edibility, Nutrition & Safety
👩‍🍳
Recipes
gamefish Recipes