Names
Scientific name: Scomberomorus cavalla
Internationally, it is referred to as Kingfish. Other common names include Cavalla, King, Snakes, and Smokers. In the UAE, the smaller size is known as Khabat (خباط), while its older counterpart is known as Chana’ad (جنعد).
Kingfish - الخباط
Shape and color
Kingfish have an elongated and strongly compressed body that is silvery-gray to iridescent green in color with silver belly and sides, and often has pale to dusky fins.
Habitat
They are commonly found swimming around open nearshores, outer reefs, and coastal waters.
Feeding
They are aggressive, hard-hitting carnivores that prefer to feed on schooling fish. They feed on many marine species, including crustaceans, mollusk, jack mackerels, snappers, squid, shrimp, halfbeaks, and many others. They are often targeted by sharks, and dolphins.
Fishing season
It is a Common fish in the waters of the UAE and can be encountered throughout the year. They do, however, prefer Winter months and are not as common during the Summer months from April up to mid-September.
Fishing method
It can be caught using various fishing techniques including gillnetting and fishing rods. It is preferred to use extremely thick lines or wires with artificial lures or live bait as jigged or trolled lures.
Fun facts
Minimum legal length: There is no minimum legal length.
Fishing status: Not banned.
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; color: rgb(94, 94, 94); font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><u class="x-el x-el-span c2-3i c2-3j c2-3 c2-5a c2-3r c2-3o c2-5b c2-5e" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: inherit; text-transform: inherit; font-weight: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: underline;"><strong class="x-el x-el-span c2-3i c2-3j c2-3 c2-5a c2-3r c2-2b c2-5b" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: inherit; text-transform: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; line-height: inherit;">Names</strong></u></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; color: rgb(94, 94, 94); font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Scientific name: Scomberomorus cavalla </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; color: rgb(94, 94, 94); font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Internationally, it is referred to as Kingfish. Other common names include Cavalla, King, Snakes, and Smokers. In the UAE, the smaller size is known as Khabat (خباط), while its older counterpart is known as Chana’ad (جنعد).</span></p>
Kingfish - الخباط
Shape and color
Kingfish have an elongated and strongly compressed body that is silvery-gray to iridescent green in color with silver belly and sides, and often has pale to dusky fins.
Habitat
They are commonly found swimming around open nearshores, outer reefs, and coastal waters.
Feeding
They are aggressive, hard-hitting carnivores that prefer to feed on schooling fish. They feed on many marine species, including crustaceans, mollusk, jack mackerels, snappers, squid, shrimp, halfbeaks, and many others. They are often targeted by sharks, and dolphins.
Fishing season
It is a Common fish in the waters of the UAE and can be encountered throughout the year. They do, however, prefer Winter months and are not as common during the Summer months from April up to mid-September.
Fishing method
It can be caught using various fishing techniques including gillnetting and fishing rods. It is preferred to use extremely thick lines or wires with artificial lures or live bait as jigged or trolled lures.
Fun facts
Minimum legal length: There is no minimum legal length.
Fishing status: Not banned.