Hunting Elephants in Western Port by Andrew Clark

When it comes to the weird and unusual in the angling world, elephant fish reign supreme. The elephant fish has everything from a nasty dorsal spine to a trunk-like snout that's covered with sensory pores. These fish are easy to target and their unusual appearance makes them a popular species for anglers.

CHARACTERISTICS

Unlike some of its cartilaginous cousins such as gummy or school sharks, elephant fish can't deliver any real acceleration. Their tail is not as powerful and is much smaller when compared to the rest of their body. Most of the fish's propulsion comes from their oversized pectoral fins, which by comparison are much bigger than the tail fin. Elephant fish aren't exactly greased lightening over the first 20m, but their large pectoral fins enable them to hold down low in stronger currents when hooked up on lighter gear.

Elephant fish use the sensory pores on their snouts to determine the quality of potential meals...