Hawaii has only four true snappers at normal diving depths, two of which were introduced from French Polynesia in the 1950's.  An additional seven deepwater snappers are illustrated here in addition to a snapper-like relative of the Boga family. The Bigeye Emperor is a deep-bodied snapper relative that is frequently seen over coral reefs.  Snappers are excellent food fishes and important to local fisheries.   Deepwater snapper stocks have been threatened by overfishing and competition with the now-abundant Bluestripe Snapper.

Bogas are snapper-like in appearance but lack prominent conical teeth and the scales are small.  They are quite rare in local catches and the flesh is soft.

Slender orange body with a pointed snout, granular teeth and large eyes; fins bright yellow.  Attains 15 inches and 2 pounds.  Rare around the island of Hawaii at depths of 300 to 800 feet.  Hawaii, Okinawa, Ogasawara, Society Islands.

These species may be seen by scuba divers around the Hawaiian Islands and throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Puako, Hawaii, 60 feet

Steel gray to dark brown with a yellow area on forehead during courtship.  Attains 15 inches but usually less than 12.  Shorter, deeper body than Uku and Lehi.  Often causes Ciguatera poisoning.  Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific. 

Lanai Lookout, Oahu, 60 feet

Fusiform body with a large tapering head.  Gray with greenish yellow markings, dark dorsal fin membranes.  Attains 40 inches and 37 pounds.  Most common during summer, from 25 to 300 feet.  Has tasty light flesh.    Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 20 feet

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet

Juvenile, Haleiwa Harbor, Oahu, 10 feet

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 15 feet

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 15 feet

Introduced to Hawaii from Mo'orea in 1956.  Frequent in murky bays and harbors.  Attains 13 inches.  Indo-Pacific.

Electric Beach, Oahu, 20 feet

Electric Beach, Oahu, 20 feet

Fish Hole, Midway Atoll, 25 feet

Fish Hole, Midway Atoll, 25 feet

Fish Hole, Midway Atoll, 25 feet

Fish Hole, Midway Atoll, 25 feet

Fish Hole, Midway Atoll, 25 feet

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 15 feet

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 15 feet

Introduced to Hawaii from the Marquesas Islands in 1958.  Abundant, forming large schools by day and foraging at night.  Ranges from shallow scuba depths to 1000 feet.  Feeds upon young Kona Crab, crustaceans and small fishes, competing with native species.  Indo-Pacific.

It is practically impossible to see these fishes without a diving submersible or catching them by hook & line.  Photos of these deepwater snappers were taken by supporting the fish on one side with a pole spear anchored in the reef.  Mahalo to Guy at Tamashiro Market for finding the finest quality specimens.

Stout head with five conical teeth on each side of upper jaw.  Prominent yellow lateral stripe, eyes large.  Inhabits deep reefs from 600 to 1000 feet.  A voracious predator of small fish & crustaceans.  Attains 3 feet and at least 10 pounds.  Stocks around the Main Hawaiian Islands are heavily depleted.  Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific. 

Fusiform body with pointed snout, large eyes, and deeply forked tail with long extensions.  Inhabits deep reefs from 600 to at least 1000 feet.  Feeds at night upon small fish & crustaceans.  Attains 4 feet and at least 28 pounds.  The most valuable snapper for flesh quality and appearance.  Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Fusiform with pointed snout, dark orange with yellow fins.  Similar in habit and appearance to Onaga and 'Ehu.  Very rare at depths of 300 to 750 feet.  World record is 38 inches and 27 pounds.  Okinawa to Guam and Hawaii, New Caledonia to Tahiti.  

Tail deeply forked; mouth large with angular lower jaw.  Dull brick red with silver below.  Inhabits deep reefs from 350 to 600 feet.  Uncommon around Maui & the Big Island of Hawaii.  Feeds primarily upon fishes and some crustaceans.  Attains 3 feet and 32 pounds.  Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Robust fusiform body with bluntly rounded head, large mouth, purplish brown color.  Inhabits deep reefs and feeds over open areas from 250 to 750 feet.  Feeds upon pelagic tunicates, small fishes and crustaceans in the water column.  The most common snapper on restaurant menus.  Similar in appearance to the Kalekale.  Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Kalekale (top) and 'Opakapaka

Body fusiform, head blunt, eyes large, mouth small and strongly angled upward.  Purplish brown with wavy blue lines, pectoral fins and tail reddish.  Attains 2 feet and at least 5 pounds.  Inhabits deep reefs from 450 to 850 feet; stocks are low.  Feeds upon small fishes & zooplankton.  Less common than 'Opakapaka, with drier flesh.  Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Deep bodied, with pink and yellow bands.  Quite rare at depths of 450 to 750 feet.  Attains 16 inches and several pounds.  Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Waikiki Aquarium

Uncommon over sand near reefs.  Filaments absent in large adults.  Attains 24 inches.  Indonesia to Okinawa, Palau, and New Caledonia.

Cabo Pulmo, Baja California, Mexico, 50 feet

Inhabits rocky reefs to 300 feet.  Attains 26 inches.  Southern California to Peru.

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico, 30 feet

Forms aggregations on rocky reefs.  Attains 12 inches.  Southern tip of Baja California to Ecuador.

Abundant in the water column above reefs where it feeds upon zooplankton.  Attains 28 inches.  Massachusetts to Bermuda & Brazil.  

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