Yellowtail Amberjack

Photo: Luke Goddard · CC BY-NC

Large schools of yellowtail amberjack use the Roman Rock pinnacle as a gathering point, with aggregations of several hundred fish common in autumn and winter. These powerful, fast-moving predators create spectacular fish tornado formations around the pinnacle during current-driven feeding frenzies, attracting sharks and large dorado to the site. Yellowtail is also a prized sport fish in South Africa, and Roman Rock's healthy population indicates that the marine protected area around the site is providing meaningful refuge for this economically important species.