Fish Identification Photos: Pacific Creole Fish, Paranthias colonus: The Pacific Creole Fish comes is a variety of colors from yellow, to red, to olive, to brown, with the color of choice in the Los Cabos area being red.

The Pacific Creole Fish is characterized by a uniform color, darker on top and lighter on the bottom, nine dorsal spines, a deeply forked, moon shaped caudal fin, and a row of four or five light blue spots along the back below the dorsal fin. This is an easy fish to identify.

It reaches a length of approximately 14 inches and up to 2.5 pounds.

Pacific Creole Fish are found at depths of 100 to 150-feet, suspended in the water column over rock structure. On rare occasions they can be found on the surface gorging themselves on pelagic red tuna crabs.

The Pacific Creole Fish belongs to the Serrandae or Sea Bass and Grouper Family. The Pacific Creole Fish is found in all waters of and oceanic islands of Mexico, except it is absent in the Sea of Cortez north of the Santa Rosalia—San Carlos line. It is considered to be an excellent food fish and sold commercially.

Pacific Creole Fish, Paranthias colonus: Photo courtesy John Snow. Pacific Creole Fish, Paranthias colonus: Caught with Captain Pata in the panga Salome, La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, midmorning in December 2001, in 76-degree, 200 to 300 foot deep water, utilizing a 30-pound test, 40-pound two dropper loop rig, with swivel, 3-ounce bank sinker, and Mustad 92553 hooks, size 2/0, on a live sardine, 25 miles north of La Playita. Size approximately 14 inches and 2 pounds. Viewed by locals as excellent table fare. Description and photo courtesy John Snow. Pacific Creole Fish, Paranthias colonus: Caught at night near Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico, with the Carnaderos baitsellers' cooperativa, 2004. Photo and description courtesy Jeff Petersen and the Carnaderos baitsellers cooperativa. Fish I.D. courtesy Neff Nash. Pacific Creole Fish, Paranthias colonus: Caught by Pete Jenista (shown), July 2003, Punta Pulpito, north of Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Photo courtesy Rev. Jeff W. Rumble.