Juvenile bank steenbras Chirodactylus grandis
Photos Robert Wilson
Adult bank steenbras Chirodactylus grandis
Photo Guido Zsilavecz
Comber or African seabass Serranus knysnaensis
Photo Robert Wilson
Bank steenbras Chirodactylus grandis
The bank steenbras is generally found further offshore, and is often seen on deeper reefs in False Bay, like Whittle Rock, and the outer Castle Rocks reef complex. The only shore site I have seen it is Pyramid Rock, and even there never close inshore. The bank steenbras is a member of the fingerfins, so named because a few rays on their pectoral fins are elongated, and may be used to rest upon. Other fingerfins, the redfingers and two-tone fingerfin (often called butterfish), which are more common, are often seen to do this. I have rarely seen the bank steenbras rest like this, except as a juvenile. The elongated rays are just visible on the top image, but are very evident on the third image.
Juveniles, as can be seen, are much stockier than the elongated adults. They like resting on sea-fans, and often use these to hide. When approaching one on a sea-fan, it tends to just move around it, rather than leave. They are rather skittish, and are not easy to photograph. Adults are less afraid, but while some are easy to approach, others are not.
Comber or African seabass Serranus knysnaensis
Until relatively recently we considered this fish to be rather rare in False Bay. It was known to exist there, but for many years I did not see it, and it did not even make it into my book, Coastal Fishes, due to a lack of photos! After the first sightings at the Gordon's Bay side we started seeing it further offshore on the Simon's Town side as well, and now it is more regularly seen.
For more details on the bank steenbras, see "Coastal Fishes of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay", available from better diveshops in Cape Town or directly from SURG.
Coastal fishes of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay, a divers' identification guide, G Zsilavecz, 2005.
Smiths' Sea Fishes, MM Smith and PC Heemstra, 1986.