Black Musselcracker (Poenskop)
Cymatoceps nasutus
Also known as: Poenskop
Reef/KelpShore
Gamefish
Score
—
Prime time
—
Depth
5–40m
Platform
Shore
Depth range
5–40mMedium
Findr bio
A crusher built for shellfish, with jaws to match — hook a big one from the rocks and the fight is as much about the structure as the fish.
How to catch
Favourite hangouts
Rocky shoreWreck reef
Recommended baits
MusselCrab
Effective techniques
Bottom Fishing
Gear
Best times
Day
One of the biggest and most sought-after rock-and-surf gamefish in South Africa — old, large "poenskop" are slow-growing territorial reef residents that take decades to reach trophy size.