Stocky Hawkfish

The stocky hawkfish is a robust, mottled reef fish found in the turbulent shallow water of KwaZulu-Natal's rocky and coral reefs. It is greyish to brown, marbled with darker blotches and small pale spots, and like other hawkfish it lacks a swim bladder, so it props itself on the bottom with its thickened pectoral fin rays and waits to ambush prey.

It favours the surge zone and reef crests where waves break, darting out to seize small crustaceans and fish. Well camouflaged and largely sedentary, it is easy to overlook. It is of little angling interest and is mostly noted by divers working shallow, broken ground.