Apparently the hogfish, being quite curious, will approach the divers and, being so flat, will turn to the side to get a better look at them. We have been to Hogfish in past visits and loved the atmosphere and food. Hogfish, any of certain species of fishes in the wrasse family, Labridae (order Perciformes). Share. Food Habits Foraging by day, the hogfish is a large bottom-associated predator. This wrasse species Lachnolaimus maximus is a reef denizen, especially where gorgonians are found. Males tend to be more intensely colored than females with a signature black spot behind the pectoral fins. Wrasse boasts one of the most delicate and moist flesh in the Florida waters. The fish are a pale blue-gray color at the top that shades to silver below. (2019). This week, on the Fish Strong podcast, we had Capt. THE FISH - A Hogfish is a Wrasse! The Cuban Hogfish, also called the Spotfin Hogfish, has a pinkish-orange head and body. In fact, restaurants all throughout Florida list hogfish on their menu. Hogfish may live for up to 11 years. Serve a side of salad, brown rice or sauteed vegetables with the hog fish to make a complete, healthy meal. A 30 gallon or larger aquarium with hiding places should be provided. Answer. When they do, they create a huge fish-shaped target for the diver to easily spear the hogfish. Common names in other languages include bodiao-de-pluma (Portuguese), doncella de pluma (Spanish), jaqueton blanca (Spanish), labre capitaine (French), odynczyk (Polish), ornefisk (Danish), pargo gallo (Spanish), and pez perro (Spanish). The Hogfish uses its elongated pig-like snout to rummage and graze for crustaceans that are buried beneath the sand. This is a vibrant, colorful fish nicknamed the peppermint hogfish for its red and white horizontal stripes. Hogfish eat shrimp, mollusks, crabs, and even lobster heads sometimes. The bait of choice is, hands down, smallish fresh shrimp and/or sand fleas. Males tend to be more intensely colored than females with a signature black spot behind the pectoral fins. In 2007, the Florida landings of hogfish totaled 306,953 pounds. This species is currently the only known member of its genus. The Yellow Candy Hogfish is also referred to as the Twospot Slender Hogfish, or Yellow Hogfish. The question of what fish eat cannot be answered with one specific and generic fish food, as many fish stores will have you believe. There, chef Oscar Quezada scores the flesh, seasons it in flour, and deep-fries it until it's golden and crisp. I had a candy hog once as well and it was a great addition to my reef tank. How deep are they? Species Status Native; View All Species; Appearance. The meat of hogfish is tender, not tough and feels like it is melting once you put it in your mouth. The hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) (known as boquinete, doncella de pluma or pez perro in Mexico[3]) is a species of wrasse native to the Western Atlantic Ocean, living in a range from Nova Scotia, Canada, to northern South America, including the Gulf of Mexico. Lean seafood has fewer calories than the fatty kind -- and lots of protein. The Hogfish Fingers or Fried Hogfish Tacos are also favorites or dig into a plate of "Peel 'n' Eat" Key West pink shrimp. See where the Hogfish ranked in our popular feature story “, Italian, Pizza, Subs, Bugers, and Sandwiches, Boat Rentals, Eco Tours, Sunset Cruises,Charters, Kayak, Paddleboards, Waverunners, Parasailing & More. It possesses a very elongated snout, which it uses to search for crustaceans buried in the sediment. If more than one Candy Hogfish is going to be added to the tank, it is very important to do this simultaneously as they will be slightly territorial among themselves. The Hogfish uses its elongated pig-like snout to rummage and graze for crustaceans that are buried beneath the sand. It’s hogfish time! Post by Dockwilson » July 27th, 2012, 2:09 am. Post by SS-342 » July 27th, 2012, 4:31 pm My book says, "Common only in the eastern and southeastern Gulf of Mexico on coral reefs, rocky areas, and open hard bottom in shallow nearshore waters less than 100 feet deep. Hogfish eat shrimp, mollusks, crabs, and even lobster heads sometimes Even though they are a part of the wrasse family, Hogfish are closely related to parrot fish. While they do hunt small organisms, they are also known to eat large carrion. Because the Hogfish is little known to those outside of the Florida Keys community, there may be some interesting facts that visitors (and perhaps even some locals) never knew about this unique breed of fish. 7. ©2020 Miami New Times, LLC. I once saw a feature on the hogfish on Keys TV, which explained that hogfish are caught almost exclusively by divers wielding long spears. Using Light Tackle Utilizing Jig Heads. The caudal portion of the body and the tail are lighter, sometimes approaching yellow. Hogfish have been recorded to live for up to 11 years. I'm not a big fan of fish, I only eat sole or flounder but enjoyed the hogfish. What does the hogfish eat? We had the hogfish sandwich with the grilled onions and melted cheese. It will eat shrimp, black worms, and other small sea creatures, so it should be kept in a fish-only tank. A species that has adapted a long snout to dig for mollusks in the sand and retrieve shrimps and crabs from within reefs and stone formations on the ocean floor. Tucked away in Safe Harbor, Stock Island, the Hogfish Bar and Grill is a true “locals” spot that avoids the… "Hogfish is my favorite, and I'll still eat it," says Dr. Parsons, who notes hogfish is on the list of fish that 's been linked ciguatera cases. Females are a pale grey or brown with males exhibiting brighter red or orange colors. A species that has adapted a long snout to dig for mollusks in the sand and retrieve shrimps and crabs from within reefs and stone formations on the ocean floor. They had it. Re: Hogfish? One of the largest species of hogfish is the spotfin, or bodianus pulchellus, growing up to … Spawning and larval development of the hogfish, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Museum of Natural History: Hogfish, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hogfish&oldid=996373050, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 26 December 2020, at 05:10. 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