Common names
Giant dart, Giant leatherskin, Giant queenfish, Largemouth queenfish, Leatherjacket, Leatherskin, Talang leatherskin
Talang queenfish
Scomberoides commersonnianus
- Saltwater
- Least concern
Max length47.25 in
Common length35.5 in
Length typeFork Length
Max weight35 lb 4 oz
Max Depth164 ft
Water typeSaltwater
Fish info
IUCN Vulnerability status
Short description
Talang queenfish have a single row of 5-6 large dark silvery spots or blotches running along the flanks over the lateral line. The head and back are bluish-grey while the ventral side of the body is silvery to brassy yellow. They don’t have a dark tip on the dorsal fin lobe. The body is strongly compressed and elongated, with a dorsal profile that is more convex than the ventral profile. The snout is rather blunt and the large mouth has several rows of very sharp teeth. The anal fin and the dorsal fin are truncated with the posterior part of each fin reduced to spines. The caudal fin is strongly forked. Posterior dorsal and anal-fin rays are semidetached finlets.
Habitat
Found in coastal waters, and frequently occur in the vicinity of reefs and offshore islands. They occasionally enter into estuarine waters.
Distribution
Has a wide distribution in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean occurring from South Africa and the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf in the west, east through Indonesia and Papua New Guinea as far as New Caledonia, north to southern Japan and south to Western Australia and New South Wales.
Behaviour
The adults are predatory, feeding on fishes, cephalopods, small invertebrates and other pelagic prey. The juveniles use their rasping teeth to feed on the scales and epidermis of other fishes. Spawning occurs between August and March. They are normally found in small schools.
Edibility
This fish offers lightly fishy flavours, and slightly oily, dry firm flesh with medium flakes. Since the meat is slightly dry, it should ideally be marinated before being cooked.
Lure suggestion
Good lures for catching queenfish are popping lures as well as sinking stickbaits, small metals, minnow lures, lead-head jigs and jerkbaits, or anything that can be retrieved quickly. Fly fishing is popular for queenfish, and soft plastics also work. Good bait: live sardines, fresh prawns, squid and fish strips.