Silver Drummer (Kyphosus sydneyanus) back home
The Silver Drummer is found in in harbours and bays, as well as being close to coastal reefs particularly those offshore.
You will find them down the East coast of the North Island as far down as the East Cape.
I have only encountered these fish on rare occasions in the North, because they are very shy and fast swimming fish, and find protection high up in the surf zone in cracks and caves etc.
They can congregate in schools around rocks and protected reefs. They also love turbulent white water washing rocky areas covered in seaweed.
The Silver Drummer has plump body, and is a silvery grey colour, it also has a dark spot below the pectoral fin base, and a large caudal fin which is dark towards the back.
The very young fish (about 1 year old) have light blue or white spots on their sides and look very much like a different species altogether.
These fish grow to around 75cm or just over 2' in length and would get up to 10kg or 23lbs in weight.
They are a bottom weed eating feeding fish, with a powerful mouth, and close set teeth forming a sharp cutting edge. They feed mainly at dawn or dusk.
I have only encountered these fish on rare occasions in the North because they tend to hide in caves and large crevices in turbulent areas.
The Silver Drummer are threatened by coastal setnets intended to catch bait fish. They have become rare in many places.