Snubnose Pompano

The snubnose pompano is a compact, deep-bodied member of the jack family, bright silver with a steep, blunt forehead and yellowish lower fins. Its rounded snout and low-slung mouth are built for crushing hard prey, and it grubs over sand for molluscs, crabs and other invertebrates rather than chasing baitfish in open water.

It frequents the surf zone, sandy beaches, estuary mouths and inshore banks of the KZN and northern Eastern Cape coast, sometimes venturing over shallow reef edges. A fast, powerful swimmer prized by anglers, it is an occasional target for spearos working the sand gullies. Handling is straightforward, though the body is deep and muscular for its length.