Job Fish

GREEN JOBFISH

Aprion virescens

WORLD RECORD:   13.6kg, Darryl Wong, Hawaii, 2006

DESCRIPTION:

The green jobfish, or kakaap in South Africa, would have to be very near the top of any spearos tropical, must shoot list.  This is not only because of their fine eating qualities but because of their extremely flighty nature and the difficulty involved in securing one.  They are a long, squat fish with an extremely large, forked tail.  They are a dark greyish green on top to off-white along their belly.

FEEDING HABITS & HABITAT:

 Jobbies are a carnivorous fish that lives mostly on other, smaller fishes as well as shrimp, crabs and other small animals.  They inhabit the outer reef to depths well below those that can be reached by breathold spearfishermen.  They are most comfortable in deeper water and are virtually impossible to approach in the shallows.

HUNTING TECHNIQUES:

 The main technique used to specifically target jobfish is berley and flashers they are a relatively voracious feeder and once they are feeding a diver can drift down within range.  They can also often be found patrolling around reef edges where the coral meets the sand.  By lying very still and avoiding eye contact for as long as possible they may come within range for divers with good breathholds.  Scratching around on the bottom and/or throwing up sand may also help to bring them.