Fish
Potato Bass
Epinephelus tukula
A huge, curious grouper covered in dark blotches, an iconic and often friendly resident of KZN's deeper reefs.
Also known as potato cod, potato grouper, potato rockcod, rockcod potato bass
- Typical size
- Commonly 1-1.5 m, reaching over 2 m
- Habitat
- Deeper coral and rocky reefs, caves and wrecks
- Depth
- About 10-150 m
The potato bass is one of the largest reef groupers in South African waters, a massive pale grey fish scattered with large dark potato-shaped blotches over the body and head. Adults live on deeper coral and rocky reefs along the KwaZulu-Natal coast, favouring caves, drop-offs and wrecks, and are famous at sites like Protea Banks and Aliwal Shoal.
Despite their size, individuals are often bold and inquisitive, approaching divers closely. They are ambush predators feeding on fish, crayfish, octopus and crabs. Slow-growing and long-lived, they are highly vulnerable to spearfishing and are protected in South Africa, where taking them is prohibited.