It is silver in colour on the underbelly, and on the top, however it has a distinctive blue green colouring along the top of it's upper side. A yellow line separates the upper and lower colours, this runs from the head to tail. The tail is distinctly yellow.

The Kingfish can reach two metres in length.

Although the kingfish is located around the coasts of New Zealand it can be found throughout the world in cool temperate waters.

They reach maturity after two years and are one of the fastest growers of any fish.

They spawn in white water on islands and headlands during early October. The Yellow tail Kingfish and other fish congregate to feed on the spawn. Kingfish love to eat sprats and pilchards. Kingfish like to take shelter under shade.

They are found around inshore reefs, sea mounts and coastal rocky headlands. The adults are generally a solitary fish, or occur in small groups, while juveniles are often found in off shore waters near the edge of the continental shelf.

I have more often than not seen one or two swimming together and when one is killed or harmed in any way I have been surrounded by hundreds of them. They seem totally unafraid and circle you from between five or so minutes up to half an hour.