Spotted scat (Scatophagus argus) is a saltwater, freshwater, brackish species recorded in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia. It is mainly found over estuary, mangrove, at depths of 0–5 m. The main season in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia runs spring, summer, autumn.
Scientific name: Scatophagus argus · Water: Saltwater, Freshwater, Brackish · Season: Spring, Summer, Autumn
Size: up to 45 cm
The spotted scat is a deep-bodied estuarine scatophagid: adults are scattered with round black spots while juveniles carry several bold vertical bars, the classic look of a mangrove estuary. It is strongly euryhaline, living over muddy bottoms in estuaries, mangrove creeks, sheltered harbours and the lower reaches of rivers, where it grazes on algae, detritus and small bottom-dwelling animals. Names differ by region: it is the ikan kitang in Malaysia, a thick-fleshed fish that turns up constantly in wet markets and at ikan bakar grills, and Taiwan's Fisheries Research Institute records it as the island's only scat. In Singapore it is one of the commonest shore species, found along the mangrove creeks at Sungei Buloh and Sungei Khatib Bongsu, off Pasir Ris and Punggol, around Pulau Ubin and inside Changi Creek; Malaysian anglers meet it around the Matang mangrove forest in Perak, Kuala Selangor Nature Park, the Johor estuary channels and the river mouths near Sibu and Miri. Hong Kong and Taiwan fish it mainly from spring to autumn, Singapore and Malaysia all year. A small hook with prawn, worm or bread paste fished on the bottom is all that is needed, which makes it an easy target for children, but the dorsal, anal and pelvic spines can wound, so use a towel or pliers when unhooking. It reaches about 45 cm total length, with most fish around 20 cm. IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
Caution: has venomous spines. Take great care when unhooking and handling; the sting is extremely painful.
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