Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Arripis trutta

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Kingdom
  
Genus
  
Higher classification
  
Arripis

Rank
  
Species

Family
  
Arripidae

Scientific name
  
Arripis trutta

Phylum
  
Chordata

Order
  
Arripis trutta Arripis truttaceus

Similar
  
Arripis, Blue cod, Giant trevally, Australian herring, Hāpuku

Juvenile eastern australian salmon arripis trutta in the surf


Arripis trutta, known as kahawai in New Zealand and as the Eastern Australian salmon in Australia, is one of four species of marine fish within the Arripis genus, found in cooler waters around the south eastern coast of Australia and New Zealand. Although it is referred to as a salmon in Australia and its species epithet trutta is the Latin for trout, it is not related to salmons or trouts of the family Salmonidae.

Contents

Arripis trutta Kahawai Arripis trutta United Fisheries

Arripis trutta has a dark bluish-green body, indistinct rows of spots forming narrow irregular bands on upper sides. Juveniles have golden bars on the upper sides that break up into spots in larger individuals, a yellowish pectoral fin with a black basal spot, a black margin on the caudal fin.

Arripis trutta Eastern Australian Salmon Arripis trutta Forster 1801

These fish typically weigh between 1 and 2.5 kg with some rare specimens reaching a weight of 6 kg. Further Australian name variants of Arripis trutta include bay trout, black back, black-backed salmon, buck, buck salmon, cocky salmon, colonial salmon, Eastern Australian salmon, native salmon, newfish, salmon trout and three kings.

Arripis trutta fishesofaustralianetauimagesimageArripisTrutt

As a sports fish

Arripis trutta Fish schools Fish fish and more fish

Kahawai is the traditional Maori name which when translated means "brave" or "strong" (kaha) water (wai). This in reference to the kahawi's tendency to jump and fight when caught. In New Zealand it is often caught in abundance at river mouths and is a highly popular sports fish that is widely regarded to "punch above its weight" in terms of challenge to land.

Arripis trutta Juvenile Eastern Australian Salmon Arripis trutta in the surf

It can often be caught on a spinning or surf casting reel, although it is not unheard of for fishermen to use lighter lines and fly fishing rods for a real challenge.

The kahawai is often associated with the white fronted tern, as the bird often congregates above the bait balls associated with a shoal of kahawai hunting. As such the tern is colloquially known as the "kahawai bird"

References

Arripis trutta Wikipedia