Fish Identification Photos: Dog Snapper, Pacific Dog Snapper or Pacific Cubera Snapper, Lutjanus novemfasciatus: The Dog Snapper is the largest of the snappers. It is distinguished by its massive size, a wide body that varies from deep red to light red in color, with eight or nine bars on the upper half of its sides and a silvery color on its bottom. In younger fish, which are about one foot in length and quite accessible from the beach, the bars are more prevalent and vary in color from black bars on a silver background to a deep red background with light bars (as shown below).

The Dog Snapper also has its famous canine teeth which are longer than the pupil diameter of its eye. The large Dog Snappers are easy to identify and not easy confused with other species. However, the smaller fish are quite similar to the Greybar Grunt, Haemulon sexfasciatum (six thick dark bars) upon collection, and also might be confused with the Barred Pargo, Hoplopagrus guentheri (which has similar barring but a significantly less aerodynamic body profile).

The Dog Snapper is a member of the Lutjanidea or Snapper Family, which are known in English as snappers, and in Mexico as "pargos." In Mexico, the Dog Snapper is found from Magdalena Bay on the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula, throughout the Sea of Cortez and along the mainland south to Guatemala; they appear to be absent from around the oceanic islands.

The Dog Snapper grows to well over five feet in length, reaching close to 100-pounds and it is found in the first 100 feet of the water column around rocky reefs. Dog Snappers feed on crustaceans and small schooling fish including croakers, grunts, and wrasses. They are normally caught out of a panga on a slow trolled live Mullet hooked with a size #7/0 hook or on live sardinas hooked with a size #1/0 hook. The smaller one-foot models can be caught from the beach around rocky structure utilizing cut squid or dead sardines. The Dog Snapper is viewed as good table fare.

Dog Snapper, Lutjanus novemfasciatus: The first picture is of a juvenile Dog Snapper caught out of the surf in May 2003 at Km. 21 (Cabo Real), between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, on cut squid. Size approximately 16 inches and 3 pounds. Identification courtesy Dr. Milton Love, University of California, Santa Barbara. The second picture is of an adult Dog Snapper caught with Capt. Pata in the panga Salome, at La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, in the first hour of daylight, in June 2003, in 75-degree water, one-half mile off shore, utilizing 60-pound test line and size 7/0 hook, baited with a live Mullet, trolled on the surface, 20 miles north of La Playita. Size approximately 4.5 feet and 80 pounds, requiring about a 20-minute tug-of-war to land. The third Dog Snapper is similar in size and was caught in a fashion similar to the second fish. The Dog Snapper is viewed by locals as a prized catch and as excellent table fare Dog Snapper, Lutjanus novemfasciatus: Worth opponent! Mark Sigal, who used to wrestle in Russia and was also a trainer on the Ukrainian National Team, pinned this beautiful Dog Snapper at Punta Perico, Baja California Sur, Mexico, while fishing south of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, with Tortuga Fleet. Sigal caught the big pargón on a live ladyfish in June 2003. Photo courtesy Dos Hernandez. Dog Snapper, Lutjanus novemfasciatus: Caught in the Midriff Islands, near Bahia de los Angeles (L.A. Bay), Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico. Often called "Cubera Snapper" in Baja. The other dog snapper, Lutjanus Jocu, occurs only in the Atlantic, and doesn't grow bigger than 25 pounds. Identification courtesy Peter Langstraat and Neff Nash. Dog Snapper, Lutjanus novemfasciatus: Stanley Chao got this beautiful 40-pound class Pargo Perro or Dog Snapper in March 2003 at Isla Espiritu Santo, La Paz, Baja California, Mexico, with Capt. Lamberto of La Paz' Mosquito Fleet. Photo courtesy Mino Shiba.