Giant Boarfish
Paristiopterus Labiosus
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Quick Facts
Scientific nameParistiopterus Labiosus
Other namesDuckfish, Giant Penfish, Long Snouted Boarfish, Sowfish
SizeUp to 100 cm (39 in)
WeightUp to 10 kg (22 lb)
FamilyBoarfish / Pentacerotidae
Distribution
Habitat & AU DistributionGenerally in deep water on sandy or muddy bottoms along scattered weed edges or structures
Interesting Info
- The Giant Boarfish is a deep water, bottom dwelling fish commonly found in depths of 20 m to 200 m (65 – 656 ft) hunting for food. They can be found in shallower waters during the summer spawning season.
- They are a predator using their large snouts to dig and suck up invertebrates such as crabs, worms, sea cucumbers, starfish & small fish .
- Little is known on the lifespan of the Giant Boarfish, but otolith microstructure studies have estimated up to 36 years.
- Boarfish prefer muddy and sandy bottoms next to kelp and weeds, often hiding amongst the weed lines.
- Adults are commonly found in pairs whilst juvenile fish can be found in small schools.
- Boarfish are are a highly targeted fish for anglers.
- Main predators of the Giant Boarfish include sharks and larger predatory fish.
Species Interaction
Recreational & Commercial Fishing
Giant Boarfish are a highly targeted fish for both anglers and commercial fishing. They command a high market price as they are a excellent eating fish.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Pentacerotidae
Genus: Paristiopterus
Species: Paristiopterus labiosus
Conservation Status
The Giant Boarfish are not evaluated on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) site. However, as its a fast growing species there are limited concerns of over fishing.
How to catch
Giant Boarfish
Catch Difficulty: Moderate
Tackle: Paternoster rig
Bait: Crab, Squid, Worms
Technique: Fish bait near reef or structure
Popularity: Highly popular target species
