Fish Identification Photos: Reef Cornetfish, Bluespotted Cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii: The Reef Cornetfish has multiple colorations, with both barred and striped phases. When stationary it assumes a barred pattern to blend into the surroundings; when swimming the bars fade and are replaced by thin blue stripes.

The Reef Cornetfish has a drab olive-green coloration with a pair of bluish stripes along its back with eyes that are close together, prominent ridges along its sides and a white tail filament. The Reef Cornetfish can only be confused with the Pacific Cornetfish, Fistularia corneta, which has a more slender head with a red tint, and a shorter, dark caudal filament. The Reef Cornetfish is a stalking predator that actively hunts such ecologically diverse species as small blennioid fishes, halfbeaks, herrings and snake eels. It does not take cover after dark.

The Reef Cornetfish is a member of the Fistulariidae Family which are also known as Cornetfishes or Peces Corneta. The Fistulariidae are elongated, depressed-bodied fishes with a greatly extended tubular snout, a very small mouth, and a long thin filament extending from the middle of the caudal fin. They are closely related to the trumpetfishes (Aulostomidae) which are more robust and lack the caudal filament. At present there are approximately four species of Fistulariidae known globally of which 2 species are known in Mexican waters.

The Reef Cornetfish is found in the first 300 feet of the water column over rocky structure. The Reef Cornetfish reaches a length of 5 feet. In Mexico, the Reef Cornetfish is found south of Magdalena Bay, throughout the Sea of Cortez except in the extreme northern section, along the coast of the mainland through to Guatemala, and around all oceanic islands. This species is a visual phenomena and a true exotic and of limited interest to most.

Reef Cornetfish, Bluespotted Cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii: Caught with Capt. Pata in the panga Salome, La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, late morning in December 2001, in 73-degree water, utilizing a flylined sardina pinned with a size 1/0 Mustad 92553 hook attached directly to 30-pound test main line, about 5 miles north of La Playita. Size approximately 24 inches and 3 pounds. One of the true exotics which is viewed locally as a “catch and release.” Description and photo courtesy John Snow. Reef Cornetfish, Bluespotted Cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii: Length 47 inches, Punta Arena, East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico, caught on a live sardine bait, 8-pound test, line October 1999, from the beach. Description and photo courtesy Peter Langstraat. Reef Cornetfish, Bluespotted Cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii: Caught on flylined live sardina at Las Arenas, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Description and photo courtesy Gene Kira. Reef Cornetfish, Bluespotted Cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii: Caught on flylined live sardina at Las Arenas, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Description and photo courtesy Gene Kira.