Cusk Eel

cusk eel the general name for two fine edible sea fish of the southern hemisphere, Genypterus capensis and G. blacodes. They belong to the family Ophidiidae, and are not true eels although somewhat eel-like in shape. They also bear a resemblance to the cusk (hence cusk eel) and the ling.

G. capensis may reach a length of 1.5 m (5'), and is generally pinkish with brown blotches. It belongs to the Cape of Good Hope region and is known there as kingklip, a name which according to van der Elst (1988) is a contraction of the old Dutch word koningklipvisch, meaning king of the rockfish. It counts as one of the finest table fishes of S. Africa.