Spotted Rose Snapper Photos and Species Information for Fish Caught in Mexico
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Spotted Rose Snapper
Pargo Chibato, Pargo Flamenco
(Lutjanus guttatus)
Fish Identification Photos: Spotted Rose Snapper, Lutjanus guttatus: The Spotted Rose Snapper is distinguished by a fairly large, irregularly-shaped black blotch on its side, just below the soft dorsal fin, that is sometimes obscure in larger fish.
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It varies in color from pink to a yellowish-pink with a silver sheen, with oblique golden-green or brownish stripes that run parallel below the lateral line and are oblique above.
The Spotted Rose Snapper is very similar in size and shape to the Colorado Snapper, Lutjanus colorado; Jordan’s Snapper, Lutjanus jordani; and the Red Snapper, Lutjanus peru.
However, all three lack the distinctive black spot below the middle portion of the dorsal fin. The Spotted Rose Snapper is found in all Mexican coastal fishing waters on the Pacific coast south to Guatemala, with the exception of the Pacific Side of the Baja California Sur peninsula and the oceanic islands.
The Spotted Rose Snapper is a member of the Lutjanidea or Snapper Family, which are known in English as snappers, and in Mexico as "pargos." It grows to about two-and-a-half feet in length but is more common in lengths of 15 to 18 inches, and it is found in the first 250 feet of the water column, over sandy bottoms and not around rocky reefs.
The Spotted Rose Snapper is viewed as good table fare.
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Spotted Rose Snapper, Lutjanus guttatus: Caught on a Sabiki Rig just off the Breakwater at La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, in December 2007. Size. approximately 4 inches. Photo courtesy of John Snow.
Spotted Rose Snapper, Lutjanus guttatus: Juvenile. Caught with Capt. Pata in the panga Salome, in 83-degree, 10-foot deep water, in September 2007, utilizing a Sabiki Rig, adjacent the La Playita marina breakwater, Puerto Los Cabos, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Size 20.8 cm. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.
Spotted Rose Snapper, Lutjanus guttatus: Caught with Capt. Pata in the panga Salome, at La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, in 78-degree water, midmorning in November 2003, in 150-foot deep water, utilizing a 30-pound test with 40-pound, two dropper loop rig, with swivel, 8-ounce bank sinker, and Mustad 92553 hooks, size 2/0 on a live sardina, 25 miles north of La Playita. This Spotted Rose Snapper is approximately 16 inches long and 4 pounds in weight; it was a non-fighter, once it came off the bottom. Viewed as excellent table fare by locals. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.
Spotted Rose Snapper, Lutjanus guttatus: Caught on June 1, near Punta Colorada, East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico, on a Rapala with 8-pound line. Two color phases of this fish are shown. Description, photo, and fish identification courtesy Peter Langstraat. |
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