Divefree

Fish

Flying Fish

Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus

An open-water fish with wing-like fins that glides above the surface to escape predators - the temperate flying fish found off the Cape.

Also known as flying-fish, flyingfish

Flying Fish
Photo: Alex Castelein · CC BY-NC 4.0
Typical size
Commonly 25-40 cm
Habitat
Open surface waters offshore
Depth
Surface waters

The flying fish seen off the Eastern Cape is the large temperate species, with greatly enlarged pectoral fins it spreads like wings. Chased by tuna and other predators, it builds up speed underwater and bursts out to glide long distances above the surface.

It is an offshore, epipelagic fish, so on the spot lists it appears only over the deeper open-water marks. Divers usually see it skittering away across the surface rather than down on the reef.