Dusky Sea Garfish

Gill rakers usually 33 or less on the first arch and usually 26 or less on the second arch. Relatively shorter upper and lower jaw, especially at larger sizes.

Viviparous (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 18; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 17 - 20; Vertebrae: 55 - 61

Found in inshore waters (Ref. 75154).

Found inshore in surface waters of estuaries, bays, inlets and gulfs to a depth of about 20 m (Ref. 9563). In the South Australian gulfs, southern sea garfish may be found in deeper waters during the colder months (Ref. 27008). Generally herbivorous, seagrasses and algal filaments comprise about 75% of their food (Refs. 26551, 27013). Form schools, generally found near the surface at night and close to the bottom over seagrass beds during the day (Ref. 6390). Post-larvae or young fish less than 1-year-old live in estuaries from March to July then move to inshore marine waters, remaining there for up to 2 years (Ref. 27012).

fisheries: commercial; bait: usually

Hyporhamphus melanochir, or Southern garfish or (in Australia) garfish, is a halfbeak garfish from the family Hemiramphidae. It is found in southern Australian and New Zealand waters. It is a very popular fish for recreational fishing and eating in Australia, where it is referred to simply as 'garfish' or 'gar'.