Fish Identification Photos: Banded Wrasse, Halichoeres notospilus: The Banded Wrasse is easy to identify and not easily confused with other species. Males have seven or eight wide, olive-green bars on the upper body, with narrow light green to yellow bars between them which extend into the dorsal fin.

Female Banded Wrasse have less pronounced bands with five or six alternating black and yellow bars on the sides.

The Banded Wrasse is a member of the Labridae or Wrasse Family known for its brilliant colors. The Banded Wrasse has been reported to reach a length of 10 inches, and thus is less than a pound in weight. It is normally found along rocky shorelines in the surge zone within the first 50 feet of the water column. It feeds on small crustaceans, sea urchins, mollusks and brittle stars.

In Mexico, the Banded Wrasse is found in all waters south of Magdalena Bay on the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula, throughout the Sea of Cortez, along the mainland, and around the majority of oceanic islands.

The Banded Wrasse is simply too small to be of interest to anyone other than sport fishermen and is thus a “catch and release” species.

Banded Wrasse, Halichoeres notospilus: Female.  Caught in the surf in December 2007, early morning at Cabo Real, Km. 21, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, on cut squid bait, utilizing a Carolina rig and size 4 Mustad 92553 hook. This species undergoes a sex reversal at midlife with the females becoming males. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow. Banded Wrasse, Halichoeres notospilus: Male. Caught from shore in the first hour of daylight, in April 2003, in 73-degree water, just outside the breaker line in 20 to 30-foot deep water, utilizing 15-pound test line with a fish finder rig, 1-ounce barrel sinker, swivel, three feet of 6-pound test, and Mustad 92553 hook, size #6, on cut squid at Km. 20 (Cabo Real), between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Size approximately 7 inches and three-quarters of a pound. For their size these things fight like hell! A “catch and release.” Description and photo courtesy John Snow.