Barred knifejaw (Oplegnathus fasciatus) is a saltwater species recorded in Taiwan. It is mainly found over rocky, at depths of 1–10 m. The main season in Taiwan runs all year.
Scientific name: Oplegnathus fasciatus · Water: Saltwater · Season: All year
Size: up to 80 cm
The barred knifejaw, 條石鯛 in Taiwan, is a prized rock-fishing species with bold black-and-white bars and powerful beak-like teeth that crush shells and sea urchins. It lives on coastal rocky reefs, fights hard and often snags the rocks, so stiff tackle is needed. It ranked 10th in the OCA's 2021 Q3 report.
There are seven vertical black bars, the first beginning over the eye and the last sitting where the body narrows towards the caudal peduncle, and the tail is usually black-tipped. Large adult males can turn up with black snouts and no striping at all. The beak is formed by fused teeth rather than a true jaw: adults use it on hard-shelled crustaceans and molluscs, while juveniles live mostly on zooplankton and are often found with patches of drifting seaweed. Beyond its native north-western Pacific it has strayed to Hawaii and Chile, and it has recently reached the central Mediterranean, most likely in ballast water. The heaviest recorded fish weighed 6.4 kg, and it is farmed across much of Asia.
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