This large fish in the family Arripidae is commonly found in schools near the top to mid water column in deeper water. Fast-moving and torpedo-shaped with a forked tail, they have yellow pectoral fins, and gold spots on the dorsal half of the body that are large, almost forming vertical bars in smaller juveniles, but shrink down to small dots as the fish grows. Juveniles can be confused with the Australian Herring (Tommy Ruff - Arripis georgianus), but do not have the black-tipped tail lobes of that species. It is also likely that Arripis trutta is present in SA In small numbers, which cannot be distinguished from A. truttaceus except by molecular analysis or gill-raker count.
