Atlantic Cutlassfish

Source of Information: FAO species catalogue. Vol. 15. Snake mackerels and cutlassfishes of the world (Families Gempylidae and Trichiuridae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the snakemackerels, snoeks, escolars, gemfishes, sackfishes, domine, oilfish, cutlassfishes, scabbardfishes, hairtails, and frostfishes known to date. Nakamura, I. & N. V. Parin 1993. FAO Fisheries Synopsis. No. 125, Vol. 15. 136 p., 200 figs.

FAO species catalogue. Vol. 15. Snake mackerels and cutlassfishes of the world (Families Gempylidae and Trichiuridae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the snakemackerels, snoeks, escolars, gemfishes, sackfishes, domine, oilfish, cutlassfishes, scabbardfishes, hairtails, and frostfishes known to date. Nakamura, I. & N. V. Parin 1993. FAO Fisheries Synopsis. No. 125, Vol. 15. 136 p., 200 figs.

The most important commercially caught trichiurid or gempylid with an annual catch of 752 711 t in 1990. About 85% of the catches reported are taken from FAO Fishing Area 61, and around 60% of the total yield is taken by China. Other areas from which are reported catches of Trichiurus lepturus are 34, 57, 71, 51, 31, 41 and 47. Caught mainly with bag nets in estuaries, with trolling, beach seines, boat seines, set nets and bottom or midwater longlines in inshore waters, and with bottom trawls in offshore waters throughout the world. The total catch reported for this species to FAO for 1999 was 1 418 944 t. The countries with the largest catches were China (1 222 454 t) and Korea, Republic of (64 445 t). Excellent taste when fried or grilled, also used for sashimi (sliced raw meat prepared with soysauce and horse raddish).

Anterior margin of pectoral-fin spine not serrated. Anal-fin origin situated below 39th to 41st dorsal-fin soft ray. Fangs in both jaws with barbs. Body extremely elongate and strongly compressed, ribbon-like, tapering to a point (tip often broken); position of anus nearer snout than posterior tip of body (preanal length about 2/5 of standard length). Mouth large, with a dermal process at tip of each jaw; lower hind margin of gill cover, concave; eye large, its diameter 5 to 7 times in head length; 2 or 3 pairs of enlarged fangs with barbs nearer tip of upper jaw and another pair near tip of lower jaw; a single series of sharp, compressed lateral teeth (often also fang-like in larger specimens) in both jaws; minute teeth on palatines. Dorsal fin rather high and long, without a notch between the spinous and soft parts, with III spines and 130 to 135 soft rays; anal fin reduced to about 100 to 105 minute spinules, usually embedded in the skin or slightly breaking through, its origin situated below 39th to 41st dorsal-fin soft ray; pectoral fins medium-sized, about as long as snout, with I spine and 11 to 13 soft rays; pelvic and caudal fins absent. Lateral line beginning at upper margin of gill cover, running oblique to behind tip of pectoral fins, then straight close to ventral contour. Scales absent on body. Excess ossification of supraoccipital, interhaemal and interneural bones often seen in specimens from Indian waters. Colour: Fresh specimens steel blue with silvery reflection, pectoral fins semi-transparent, other fins sometimes tinged with pale yellow; the colour becomes uniform silvery grey sometime after death.

Throughout tropical and temperate waters of the world.

Maximum 120 cm total length, common from 50 to 100 cm.

Benthopelagic,continental shelf to 350 m depth (from 55 to 385 m in the eastern Pacific), occasionally in shallow waters and at surface at night.Young and immature fish feed mostly on euphausiids, small pelagic planktonic crustaceans, such as Paracalanus, Acartia, Oncaea etc., and small fishes (anchovies, bregmacerotids etc.). Adults become more piscivorous and feed on anchovies, sardines, myctophiids, bregmacerotids, carangoids, sphyraenids, atherinids, sciaenids, Scomber, Trichiurus etc. and occasionally on squid and crustaceans . Adults and juveniles have opposing complementary vertical diurnal feeding migration. Juveniles and small adults form schools about 100 m above the bottom during daytime and form loose feeding aggregations at night-time near the surface where they prey on planktonic organisms. Large adults feed on pelagic prey near the surface during daytime and migrate to the bottom at night. In the Sea of Japan, this species matures at 2 years old at a size of about 30 cm preanal length in females and 28 cm in males. Some individuals of both sexes also mature at age 1 (Shiokawa, 1988). Egg production at 45 cm preanal length is estimated at about 130 000 over the entire spawning season around the central part of the Sea of Japan. Eggs are pelagic, have a diameter of 1.59 to 1.88 mm, and hatch after 3 to 6 days at a size of 5.5 to 6.5 mm total length. The spawning season is from April to August with a peak in June in the East China Sea, from July to October with a peak of September in Suruga Bay, from April to October with a peak in June in the Kii Channel, from May to November off the Kii Peninsula, and from June to October with a peak in July and August in the central part of the Sea of Japan (Shiokawa, 1988). Shiokawa (1988) estimated the age at preanal length of this species in the Sea of Japan based on otolith readings. Females: 1 year at 24 cm, 2 years at 30 cm, 3 years at 34 cm, 4 years at 37 cm, 5 years at 40 cm, 6 years at 41 cm. Males: 1 year at 23 cm, 2 year at 28 cm, 3 year at 31 cm, 4 year at 33 cm, 5 year at 34 cm, 6 year at 35 cm. For the Californian population Fitch and Gotshall (1972) estimated the age of a 83 cm total length male as 4 years and the age of a 112 cm total length female as 7 years. Migration of this species is considered to be carried out between the wintering grounds in the East China Sea and the spawning grounds in the Yellow Sea (Misu,1961). In the Sea of Japan, the wintering grounds is situated in the coastal waters, mostly on the continental shelf (Shiokawa,1988).

Generally over muddy bottoms of shallow coastal waters (Ref. 9351). Often enter estuaries (Ref. 9351). Adults and juveniles have opposing complementary vertical diurnal feeding migration. Juveniles and small adults form schools about 100 m above the bottom during daytime and form loose feeding aggregations at night-time near the surface where they prey on planktonic organisms such as euphausiids, small pelagic planktonic crustaceans and small fishes (anchovies, bregmacerotids, etc.). Large adults feed on pelagic prey (anchovies, sardines, myctophiids, bregmacerotids, carangoids, sphyraenids, atherinids, sciaenids, Scomber, Trichiurus, squid and crustaceans, etc.) near the surface during daytime and migrate to the bottom at night. One of the main predators during summer in a sandy beach at Canto Grande, Santa Catarina, Brazil (Ref. 55758).

Body extremely elongate, compressed and tapering to a point. Mouth large with a dermal process at the tip of each jaw. Dorsal fin relatively high; anal fin reduced to minute spinules usually embedded in the skin or slightly breaking through; anterior margin of pectoral fin spine not serrated. Pelvic and caudal fins absent. Lateral line beginning at the upper margin of the gill cover, running oblique to behind the tip of the pectoral fins, then straight close to the ventral contour. Fresh specimens steely blue with silvery reflections, becoming uniformly silvery gray sometime after death (Ref. 6181).

Capillaria Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Camallanus Infection 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Hysterothylacium Infection (Hysterothylacium sp.). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Plerurus Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Camallanus Infection 13. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Amphidromous. Refers to fishes that regularly migrate between freshwater and the sea (in both directions), but not for the purpose of breeding, as in anadromous and catadromous species. Sub-division of diadromous. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.Characteristic elements in amphidromy are: reproduction in fresh water, passage to sea by newly hatched larvae, a period of feeding and growing at sea usually a few months long, return to fresh water of well-grown juveniles, a further period of feeding and growing in fresh water, followed by reproduction there (Ref. 82692).

Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 130 - 135; Analsoft rays: 100 - 105

Generally over muddy bottoms of shallow coastal waters (Ref. 9351). Often enter estuaries (Ref. 9351). Juveniles feed mostly on euphausiids, small pelagic planktonic crustaceans and small fishes; adults feed mainly on fishes and occasionally on squids and crustaceans (Ref. 6181). Adults and juveniles have opposing complementary vertical diurnal feeding migration. Large adults usually feed near the surface during the daytime and migrate to the bottom at night. Juveniles and small adults form schools 100 m above the bottom during the daytime and form loose feeding aggregations at night near the surface. Pelagic eggs (Ref. 35388) and larvae (Ref. 6768). Max weight of 1.5 kg given in Ref. 28023 seems too low. The current angling world record was caught in Rio de Janeiro's Guanabara Bay and weighed 3.69 kg. Commercial fisherman have caught fish of up to 5 kg (Capt. Eduardo Baumeier, pers. Comm., 2001). Marketed salted or dried and also frozen (Ref. 9351). Excellent taste when fried or grilled; also for sashimi when fresh.

fisheries: highly commercial; gamefish: yes; price category: high; price reliability: reliable: based on ex-vessel price for this species

廣泛分布於世界各溫熱帶海域。台灣各地皆產。

分布於西北太平洋海域，由日本、台灣、大陸沿海至香港附近之南中國海等海域。台灣各地均產。

主要漁法為底拖網、巾著網及一支釣等。盛漁期在春夏間，也是北部沿岸季節性重要之海釣魚種。肉質佳，但體型較小，以油炸或煎食為宜。

產量甚大，是極重要的經濟漁獲，全世界年產量超過500,000公噸。主要漁法為底拖網、巾著網及定置網等。盛漁期在春夏間，也是北部沿岸季節性重要之海釣魚種。肉質佳，體型大者常分段出售，油炸或醃食，甚或作生魚片均可。

體甚延長，側扁，呈帶狀；尾極長，向後漸變細，末端成細長鞭狀，尾柄與肛前長的比例達52％左右。頭窄長，頭背面斜直或略突起，前端尖銳，吻尖長；左右額骨分開。眼中大；虹彩白色。口大，平直；下頜長於上頜；齒發達銳利，側扁而尖，排列稀疏，上頜前端具倒鉤狀大犬齒2對；下頜倒鉤狀少於尖形齒。鱗退化；側線在胸鰭上方顯著向下彎，而後沿腹緣至尾端。背鰭起始於後頭部延伸至尾端，125-145軟條，肛門前背鰭數40-42；臀鰭完全退化，起始於背鰭第43-45軟條之下方，棘狀化，但通常埋於皮下；胸鰭短，末端可達側線上方；無尾鰭與腹鰭。體銀白色；背鰭及胸鰭淺灰色，新鮮魚體具寬黑緣，較大型者不顯著；尾端呈黑色。與白帶魚/Trichiurus lepturus/極為相似，分辨方法可由尾極長，尾柄與肛前長的比例達52％左右；多種同功異構酶之比例以及大多分布於大陸棚沿岸等差異來決定，但彼此特徵差異極小而有重疊現象，因此彼此間分類地位爭議仍大。

體甚延長，側扁，呈帶狀；尾略長，向後漸變細，末端成細長鞭狀，尾柄與肛前長的比例達40％左右。頭窄長，頭背面斜直或略突起，前端尖銳，吻尖長；左右額骨分開。眼中大；虹彩白色。口大，平直；下頜長於上頜；齒發達銳利，側扁而尖，排列稀疏，上頜前端具倒鉤狀大犬齒2對；下頜倒鉤狀多於尖形齒。鱗退化；側線在胸鰭上方顯著向下彎，而後沿腹緣至尾端。背鰭起始於後頭部延伸至尾端，具III棘，共130-141軟條，肛門前背鰭數38-42；臀鰭完全退化，起始於背鰭第43-45軟條之下方，棘狀化，但通常埋於皮下；胸鰭短，末端可達側線上方；無尾鰭與腹鰭。體銀白色；背鰭及胸鰭淡白而呈透明狀，具不顯著之黑緣；尾端呈黑色。以前文獻記載尚有沙帶魚(/Lepturacanthus savala/)產於台灣灘，惜一直未有採獲標本，其與白帶魚之差異在於臀鰭第I棘發達，超過眼徑之半。另有一種短帶魚(/Trichiurus brevis/)目前僅發現於中國大陸沿海及金門等海域，是否有分布於台灣海峽東側仍需再調查，其與白帶魚之差異在於肛門前背鰭數為34-35。

暖溫水域中底層洄游性魚類，一般棲息於近泥砂或泥質之大陸棚沿岸水域，水深在20-50公尺間，亦常游至深遠150公尺，甚至更深之水域，產卵時則洄游至淺海水域。喜弱光，有明顯日夜垂直分布之習性，白天至深水層，黃昏、夜間及清晨則上游至表層。具群游性，性極貪食，以小魚及甲殼類為食。

暖溫水域中底層洄游性魚類，一般棲息於開放性之大洋水域，水深在60-100公尺間，亦常游至深遠350公尺，甚至更深之水域，產卵時則洄游至淺海水域。喜弱光，有明顯日夜垂直分布之習性，白天至深水層，黃昏、夜間及清晨則上游至表層。具群游性，性極貪食，以小魚及甲殼類為食。

Occurs on continental shelf, occasionally in shallow waters and at surface at night. Generally found on muddy bottoms of shallow coastal waters and may often penetrate estuaries (Ref.9351). Immature fish feed mostly on euphausiids, small pelagic planktonic crustaceans, small fishes while adults feed on anchovies, sardines, myctophiids etc. and occasionally on squids and crustaceans. Adults and juveniles have opposing complementary vertical diurnal feeding migration. Large adults usually feed on pelagic prey near the surface during the daytime and migrate to the bottom at night. Juveniles and small adults form schools 100 m above the bottom during the daytime and form loose feeding aggregations at night-time near the surface where they prey on planktonic organisms. Caught in estuaries and offshore waters throughout the world (Ref. 9688). Also caught with encircling nets (Ref. 9351). Marketed salted/dried and also frozen (Ref. 9351). Excellent taste when fried or grilled; also for sashimi when fresh.

Worldwide distribution, except eastern Pacific, in warm seas. Western Atlantic north to Massachusetts, common from Chesapeake Bay south.

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