Fish
Elf
Pomatomus saltatrix
A swift, viciously biting shoal predator - the elf, known abroad as tailor or bluefish.
Also known as bluefish, elwe, shad, shad elf, tailor
- Typical size
- Attains about 120 cm and 14 kg
- Habitat
- Shoaling predator, surf and inshore
The elf is dark bluish-green above and silvery below, reaching about 120 cm and 14 kg. It is one of the best-known angling fish of the whole region - swift and voracious, elf bite viciously and fight well, with big fish often jumping repeatedly (the name saltatrix is Latin for a dancing girl).
They hunt in shoals, and when they find sardines or other small fish they gorge in a feeding frenzy, sometimes regurgitating and starting again. They are, in turn, prey for larger fish such as kob.