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The Mullet Snapper fish identification, habitats, characteristics, Fishing methods
The Mullet Snapper is easily recognized by their elongated body and the alternating dark and light stripes on the sides formed by parallel rows of scales that have yellowish to white centers. The Mullet Snapper grows to over three feet in length, but is more common between 15 and 18 inches. It is found in the first 160 feet (50 m) of the water column, suspended in mid-water over rocky bottoms. It feeds on crabs, mollusks, octopuses, shrimp, and small fish. They are strong fighters on light tackle and can be taken on natural baits or small lures fished or slowly trolled near the bottom. The Mullet Snapper is considered as good table fare.
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Mullet Snapper, Lutjanus aratus, also known as Pargo Lisa, Pargo de raizero, pargo, parfo colorado, pargo de jilguero, pargo rayado, is a marine fish, is a member of the Lutjanidea or Snapper Family known in Mexico as Pargos. They inhabit Pacific side of the Southern Baja California to the central Gulf of California to Ecuador, including Cocos the Galapagos and Malpelo. It is one of the most common snapper from Florida to South America. In western Atlantic Ocean it reaches as far north as Massachusetts and as far south as Trinidad and southeastern Brazil.
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Description
The Mullet Snapper is a perch-likes ray-finned fish with elongate moderately deep body, long and pointed snout and a relatively large and protractile mouth. Teeth are conical to caniniform; there are granular teeth on tongue. Vomerine tooth patch at front roof of the mouth are V-shaped or crescentic without a medial posterior extension. One of the upper pairs of canine teeth at front of jaws generally enlarged, visible when mouth is close.
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Continuous rounded dorsal fin has 11 or 12 spines and 12 soft rays. Anal fin is rounded with 3 spines and 7 or 8 soft rays. Pectoral fins with 15 rays are long, reaching level of anus; caudal fin slightly emarginated or truncate; tail edge concave. Preopercular notch and knob are moderate. Scale rows on upper back above the lateral line run parallel to the lateral line, at least anteriorly; 5 or 6 scale rows on cheek, bases of soft dorsal and anal fins scaly. There are 16 or 17 gill rakers on first arch, 11 or 12 on lower limb of first arch (including basics).
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Mullet Snapper are generally dark gray-green to reddish on the back and sides with a silvery belly. Scales with yellowish white centers are forming 8 irregular dark and light vertical stripes on the sides. These stripes may be faint or absent in large adults. There is a solid or broken blue line under eye on cheeks, silvery on underside of head and throat that may disappear with growth; fins mainly grey to yellow; concave tail is dark. Species from deeper water are mainly reddish.
They can be easily confused with Jordan’s Snapper (more silver in appearance with longitudinal stripes; they quickly turn dark brown to black upon collection).
Habitats
The Mullet Snapper is an inshore, reef-dwelling species found over hard bottoms up to 160 feet (50 m) depth. Adults range into clear, deep waters and sometimes form schools consisting of several hundreds of individuals in mid-water over rocky bottoms. They inhabit shallow coastal waters over a variety of bottoms including coral reefs, vegetated sand, and mud in mangrove areas. Juveniles are encountered in shallow waters, including littoral pools and estuaries, sometimes enter brackish waters.
Carnivorous fish, that are dominant in the diet of this active predatory species, feeds on fish and invertebrates. Other common foods include crabs, shrimps, worms, prawns and other crustaceans, cephalopods and gastropods.
Fishing Methods.
The Mullet Snapper are strong fighters on light tackle and can be taken on natural baits or small lures fished or slowly trolled near the bottom. Mostly they caught with beach seines, gill nets, traps and hand lines. They associated with reefs, wrecks, holes, and channels; also occasionally they found on the flats and can be caught there by fly fishing. They may also be lured to the surface and caught on a fly. Like most snapper, mullet snappers are considered good eating; marketed fresh and frozen.
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