Fish Identification Photos: Rivulated Mutton Hamlet, Many Spotted Mutton Hamlet, Alphestes multiguttatus: The Rivulated Mutton Hamlet or Many Spotted Mutton Hamlet is very similar to the Pacific Mutton Hamlet, Alphestes immaculatus, and characterized by its rusty brown appearance with darker brown blotches forming is irregular bars on its side.

It can be distinguished from the Pacific Mutton Hamlet by its five or six additional regularly aligned transverse bars on the pectoral fins (versus broken spots and the dark brown spots along its sides which tend to coalesce to form interrupted strips).

The Rivulated Mutton Hamlet or Many Spotted Mutton Hamlet reaches a length of 10 inches and about 1 pound in weight, and is found in the first 100 feet of the water column.

It is a nocturnal predator feeding primarily on benthic crustaceans.

The Rivulated Mutton Hamlet or Many Spotted Mutton Hamlet is a member of the Serrandae or Sea Bass and Grouper Family.

In Mexico, the Rivulated Mutton Hamlet or Many Spotted Mutton Hamlet is found along the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula between Magdalena Bay and Cabo San Lucas, and on mainland Mexico south of Guaymas. It is not found along the eastern coast of Baja.

The Rivulated Mutton Hamlet or Many Spotted Mutton Hamlet is too small and too rare to be of great interest to anglers.

Rivulated Mutton Hamlet, Many Spotted Mutton Hamlet, Alphestes multiguttatus: Caught from shore during the last hour of daylight, in 84-degree water, in August 2003, in rocky structure 50 yards from shore, utilizing a 15-pound test with a one dropper loop rig, no swivels, 1-ounce bank sinker, and Mustad 92553 hooks, size #8, on cut squid at Km. 16 (Twin Dolphins) between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Size approximately 3 inches. Note: not a very photogenic species! Description and photo courtesy John Snow. Rivulated Mutton Hamlet, Many Spotted Mutton Hamlet, Alphestes multiguttatus: Caught at East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico: "My one and only new species caught last year in June 2002. This fish belonging to the grouper family goes by the complicated name of Rivulated Mutton Hamlet. Caught with a three-inch Rapala near Scott Glenn's house." Description and photo courtesy Peter Langstraat.