Schoolmaster: Lutjanus apodus

Appearance:

• Color olive gray on upper sides with yellow tinge, sometimes with reddish tinge around head
• Long triangular snout
• Eight pale vertical bars on the side of the body
• Yellow fins
• Blue stripe below eye, becoming interrupted in adults
• No dark lateral spot

Habitat:

Juvenile schoolmaster are found in grassy flats.  Adults frequent nearshore, especially around elkhorn coral reefs.  Large adults are sometimes found on the continental shelf.

Behavior:

These fish spawn in July and August.  Schoolmaster may attain sizes up to 8 pounds and 24 inches.  They feed on crustaceans, small fishes, and gastropods.

State Record:

This species is not currently eligible for a state record.

Fishing Tips and Facts:

Additional Information:

Schoolmaster are similar in appearance to the dog snapper, L. jocu.

Image Credit: Diane Rome Peebles