Parore

PARORE

Girella tricuspidata

DESCRIPTION:

Parore are one of the most common fish found in northern waters.  Some people may be surprised to find parore in the non-target species but they are generally not regarded as an eating fish.  On my first dive trip to the Bay of Islands I shot a couple and brought them back to the boat with the classic line "I'm not sure what this is but..." The reply was: "That's a parore some people call them black snapper and think they're great but we call them s*#$t fish, now don't bring them on my boat"

Parore are found over kelpy reefs in large schools.

The parore is recognised by its evenly arched dorsal and ventral profiles, small mouth and eye, large tail, and colour pattern. In marine waters it is bluish-grey, whereas in estuaries it is a darker grey to brown. it has 11 or 12 thin tapering bars on the side of the body, which fade to silvery below.