Fish

White steenbras (pignose grunter)

Steenbras blanco

Lithognathus lithognathus

SaltwaterBrackish

At a glance

Typical size

3–15 lb.

Depth

Surf to about 160 ft.

Best time

Day and evening on a rising tide.

Found in

1 area

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A long, silver seabream with a long pointed 'pig' snout, thick lips, and 6–7 faint dark vertical bars on the sides (clearer in young fish).
Typical size: 3–15 lb.
Maximum size: Can reach over 4 ft; very big fish are rare today.
Diet: Sand prawns, mud prawns, worms, clams and crabs dug from the sand — they 'tail' while feeding.
Behavior: Young fish grow up in estuaries; adults feed along sandy beaches and in the surf, often in schools, and migrate to spawn. Slow-growing and long-lived.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Southern Africa. Found only in South Africa, from the Orange River mouth to KwaZulu-Natal: sandy beaches, surf zones and estuaries.
Habitat: Found only in South Africa, from the Orange River mouth to KwaZulu-Natal: sandy beaches, surf zones and estuaries.
Depth: Surf to about 160 ft.
Fishing depth: 1–15 ft in surf gullies and estuary channels.
Best season: Summer, about November to April.
Best time: Day and evening on a rising tide.
Best tides: Rising tide into gullies and onto estuary banks.
Best weather / conditions: Calm, clear surf.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Leader Sinkers Hooks

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Found only in South Africa, from the Orange River mouth to KwaZulu-Natal: sandy beaches, surf zones and estuaries.
Rig up: 11–13 ft surf rod; light to medium rod in estuaries. 25–40 lb mono.
Pick your bait: Live sand prawn, mud prawn, bloodworm and white mussel. Lures: Rarely; small crab or prawn flies sometimes work.
Fish it: Fish live prawn or worm in surf gullies and estuary channels on a light sinker; steenbras mouth the bait before running, so wait for a steady pull.
Time it: Day and evening on a rising tide. Rising tide into gullies and onto estuary banks.

Fishing techniques: Fish live prawn or worm in surf gullies and estuary channels on a light sinker; steenbras mouth the bait before running, so wait for a steady pull.
BigJoe's tip: Look for steenbras tails flicking in the shallow surf on calm days — they're digging for prawns.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Good eating, but given its status most anglers now release it.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Sharp dorsal spines; watch the surf and rip currents.
Regulations: South Africa: 1 per person per day with a 60 cm (24 in) minimum, and no sale. The stock has collapsed and the species is listed as Endangered — many anglers release every one. South Africa requires a recreational fishing permit (sold at post offices and online), with daily bag limits, minimum sizes and closed seasons for many species; Namibia and Mozambique sell their own licenses. Recreational catches may not be sold, and marine protected areas have their own rules.
Conservation: Endangered and slow to recover — please release it.

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Sources & photo credits