Senegalese Kob
This week’s Catch of the Week goes to Lyujie Tao (Terry) for his remarkable trophy Senegalese Kob. Although not as large as a tarpon, cubera snapper, or threadfin, this Kob was an impressive specimen for its species. The fishing conditions were a bit tricky during the week, but Terry’s persistence with his paddle tail in the late evening sessions finally paid off. He was rewarded with this beautiful fish, which put up an incredible fight.
Well done, Terry! We look forward to welcoming you back to Sette Cama soon.
Characteristics and Habitat of the Senegalese Kob
The Senegalese Kob is a large, elongated, and compressed fish with 11 dorsal spines and 28 to 33 dorsal soft rays. It has two anal spines and seven anal soft rays. Its small eyes, measuring between 5.7 to 6.4 times in head length, can make identification based on this feature challenging due to variation with growth. The snout is short, and the mouth is large and oblique, with a prominent lower jaw. Both jaws contain bands of small, sharp teeth, with larger and sharper teeth located in the upper jaw’s outer row, including a pair of large median canines. The lower jaw also has larger, sharper teeth in the inner row. There are six pores on the chin and five on the snout.
The first gill arch has 9 to 12 gill rakers on the upper section and 4 to 6 on the lower, for a total of 12 to 18. These gill rakers are short, roughly equal to the length of the gill filament at the angle between the lower and upper parts of the gill arch. The dorsal fin is long and deeply notched, with 10 spines in the first part and one spine followed by 28 to 33 soft rays in the second part. The second anal fin spine is short and slender, about two-thirds the length of the first soft ray and less than one-third the head length. The caudal fin is pointed, and the scales on the body are weakly ctenoid, while those on the snout and suborbital region are cycloid. The lateral line extends to the end of the caudal fin. The swim bladder is carrot-shaped with branches extending from its front end into two posterior groups of long, slender tubes that run alongside the bladder for its length.
Colouration:
The body is silvery grey, with small dark spots following the scale rows. These spots are oblique near the front of the back and sides, and more horizontal towards the rear. The tip of the spinous part of the dorsal fin is black. The pelvic and anal fins are a dark yellowish colour, the caudal fin is dark, and the inside of the gill cover is black.
Biology:
The Senegalese Kob is found in coastal waters with muddy, sandy, or rocky bottoms. Smaller individuals typically inhabit shallower waters but rarely enter estuaries. Their diet includes fish, shrimp, and crabs. They spawn between November and March in waters ranging from 22 to 25°C in the Gulf of Guinea. This species is one of the most economically significant demersal fish in West African waters.
Book your rod today
If you’re inspired by Terry’s success and ready for your own unforgettable fishing adventure at Sette Cama, book your trip today! Don’t miss the chance to land a trophy catch of your own.
