Slinger Seabream

Chrysoblephus puniceus

The slinger seabream (Chrysoblephus puniceus) is a colorful sparid fish endemic to the southwestern Indian Ocean, primarily found along the South African coast. Adults reach 55-85 cm and display a reddish-pink body with bluish tints, pink fins, and a distinctive slender blue bar below the eyes. They inhabit offshore rocky reefs at depths of 10-130 meters, most commonly between 20-80 meters. They are protogynous hermaphrodites, with females transforming into males at approximately 5 years of age or 38 cm in length. They feed on crustaceans, cephalopods, and small fish. They are an important sport and commercial fish in KwaZulu-Natal waters. For divers exploring South African reefs, particularly Aliwal Shoal and the Protea Banks, encountering slingers on deeper reef dives adds a flash of pink to the reef scene. Their restricted distribution makes them a special sighting unavailable elsewhere in the world.