Jock Stewart - Helicolenus percoides

Jock Stewarts are also known as Sea Perch. They live throughout the fiords and can often be found resting on ledges. Jock Stewart tend to sit on the bottom of fiords and are plentiful off Banks Peninsular and Kaikoura. They tend to be a pest when fishing as they open their mouth when caught and the resulting drag makes one think he/she has something big when reeling it up from 100m. They are about 30cm and good to eat.

© Images Dr Paddy Ryan