Trachinotus africanus is a very deep bodied fish, silver in colour with blue fins with yellow margins.

[4][1] This species was described in 1967 by the South African ichthyologist James Leonard Brierley Smith (1897-1968) with the type locality given as Knysna.

[5] Trachinotus africanus is an inshore species of the surf zone which has a tolerance for water with low salinity and will enter estuaries.

[6] Trachinotus africanus is a quarry species for recreational shore and boat angling, spearfishing and subsistence fisheries in South Africa.

[7] The fish is lauded for being excellent table fare, being grilled or prepared on a braai.