Appearance
- First 3 spines of dorsal fin greatly elongated
- Black blotch near end of dorsal fin
- Body deep, strongly compressed
- Snout elongated in adults
- Tail with elongated upper and lower lobes
- Young mottled with various colors, fading with age
Size: Up to 36 inches
Habitat
Rocky bottoms, ledges and reefs offshore; young associated with seagrass beds
Behavior
Long, hog-like snout allows them to feed on bottom-dwelling mollusks and crustaceans. Because they tend to root in the sediment in search of small prey, they are not commonly caught on hook and line.
Additional Information
Also known as hog snapper.
Popular food fish. Primarily harvested by spearfishing.
State Record: 19 lb 8 oz, caught in Daytona Beach
Image Credit: © Diane Rome Peebles