Scientific name
Ocyurus chrysurus (Bloch, 1791)
Also called yellowtail sardine (Martinique) or colas (Guadeloupe). In English, yellowtail snapper.
Morphology
Yellowtail snapper is a slender-bodied fish divided by two distinct colors. Above the lateral line is blue to purple with yellow spots, the underside is silver with red and yellow lines. The dorsal fin and tail are bright yellow. The other fins are white.
Yellowtail snapper fishing grounds
These snappers can evolve at depths of up to 200 meters. But they are more often found in shallow water near the coast, at depths of between 10 and 30 meters. They prefer sandy areas and seagrass beds, where they feed on crustaceans, worms, gastropods and fish.
Fishing techniques
Yellowtail snapper are best fished vertically with a jig or a bait called a tenya. The latter allows you to add a piece of fatty flesh to attract snapper from a distance. Leads are light, often between 20 and 50 grams.
Reproduction
Yellowtail snapper reach sexual maturity between 25 and 31 cm. Females lay eggs twice a year, in September-October and February-March.
Size and weight
- Legal minimum catch size: none
- Size at sexual maturity: 25 to 31 cm (2 years)
- Average size: 40 cm
- Maximum height: 85 cm (6 kg, 19 years old)
- World record: 4.98 kg - 68.58 cm (Challenger bench, Bermuda, 16/06/2004)
Good to know
Snapper meat is highly prized, especially in Brazil. It's an easy and fun fish to catch for novice anglers on a trip, for example.
