Red Stumpnose
The red stumpnose is a reef seabream found only along South Africa's southern and eastern coastline — one of the few fish on earth with nowhere else to go.
Anglers target it by handline and rod from boats over rocky reef, and a single fish is considered a serious catch. Populations have been severely reduced by decades of fishing pressure, making every encounter with one genuinely rare.
Scientific Name: Chrysoblephus gibbiceps
Also known as Miss Lucy, bont daggeraad
- Silvery-pink body with 5–7 bold red vertical bars; coloration fades with age and after death.
- Adult males develop a steep, bulbous forehead — the "hump" that gives the species its scientific name gibbiceps — making sex identification easy in hand.
- Strong, rounded molars visible when the mouth is opened; built for crushing hard-shelled prey rather than biting fish.
- Most fish landed today run under 1 kg; the species can live to 48 years and reach much larger sizes, but large specimens are now very rare.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Endemic to South Africa — found nowhere else on earth. Range runs from False Bay near Cape Town east to around Margate on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast, with the highest densities south of East London.
- Tightly tied to rocky reef and hard bottom at all life stages beyond the early larval phase; rarely found over sand or soft substrate.
- Depth range spans roughly 10–100 m; juveniles use shallower inshore reef while adults shift progressively deeper as they grow.
- A cold-water species that favours areas with strong current — the reef systems of the South Cape and Eastern Cape coast suit it well.
Key Locations
- False Bay — the westernmost part of the range and a documented research site; fish present but not abundant.
- Struisbaai — a known handline fishing ground on the Agulhas coast where artisanal fishers still target the species.
- South Cape coast between Mossel Bay and Port Elizabeth — historically the core of the range and still the most reliable area.
- Eastern Cape coast to East London — fish present, though densities decline moving northeast of East London.
Specific Spots
- Rocky reef edges and pinnacles where current pushes bait and invertebrates — red stumpnose hold close to structure rather than roaming open water.
- Deeper reef ledges and drop-offs, especially for larger adults that have moved offshore with age.
- Crevices and undercuts in reef where urchins, redbait, and crabs concentrate; the fish's crushing molars are purpose-built for working these spots.
Red Stumpnose FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Red Stumpnose?
Fresh natural bait is the proven approach, redbait, crab, prawn, and octopus all work. Redbait in particular is a staple bait on South Cape and Eastern Cape reef because it matches what the fish are already eating. Bait fished hard on the bottom or just above reef structure, not suspended mid-water.
When is the best time to fish for Red Stumpnose?
Can be caught year-round; as a cold-water species it does not shut down feeding in winter the way warm-water reef fish do. Spawning aggregations occur locally over reef, these brief windows concentrate fish but also make them especially vulnerable to overfishing.
How do you catch Red Stumpnose?
Most red stumpnose are caught from boats anchored or drifting over known reef marks, fishing natural bait hard on the bottom. Handline fishing by artisanal fishers, one hook, one line, is the traditional method along the South Cape coast.
What do Red Stumpnose eat?
Feeds heavily on hard-shelled reef invertebrates, urchins, redbait (a colonial tunicate common on South African reefs), crabs, and octopus. The strong molar teeth are the giveaway: this fish crushes rather than bites. Baits that match this forage, fresh crab, prawn, or redbait, are the standard approach.
Where do Red Stumpnose live?
Endemic to South Africa, found nowhere else on earth. Range runs from False Bay near Cape Town east to around Margate on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast, with the highest densities south of East London.
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