Kōrero: Coastal fish

Blue cod (Parapercis colias) are endemic to New Zealand and are one of the best fish for eating. Inquisitive, they will often approach divers and nip their fingers. They are most abundant south of Cook Strait but are also widely distributed from the Three Kings Islands to the north, the Chatham Islands to the east, and the Snares Islands to the south. They live on the bottom, and adult fish eat almost any animal that comes their way. Blue cod form an important commercial fishery in places such as Stewart Island, where they are caught in baited pots.