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A dark charcoal-to-black surgeonfish endemic to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, often forming large feeding aggregations over reef. It has the family's signature retractable scalpel spine at the tail base.
Reef slopes, lagoons and rocky reef edges, often in roaming schools
Daytime over reef slopes where schools graze on algae
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Light or light rig with small hooks; these are reef grazers, so fish small natural baits.
Bread, dough or algae on a small hook — these grazers won't chase lures.
Eating & safety
Handle clear of the tail-base scalpel, which can slash skin when the fish thrashes.
Stung or poisoned? First-aid steps →Best conditions: Daytime over reef slopes where schools graze on algae
Its species name 'gahhm' is simply the old Red Sea Arabic word for surgeonfish, recorded by naturalist Peter Forsskål in the 1700s.