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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🎣 Game Fish 🌡️ Tropical

Yellowtail blue snapper

Paracaesio xanthurus Bleeker, 1869
Max Length
50 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.4
Depth
5–250 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
37.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Adults occur over rocky bottoms, sometimes forming large schools. They feed largely on zooplankton . Caught mainly with handlines and bottom longlines and marketed fresh or frozen .

Scientific Name
Paracaesio xanthurus
Authority
Bleeker, 1869
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
50 cm
Depth Range
5–250 m
Latitude
35°S – 35°N
Trophic Level
3.4
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
37.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body relatively deep and laterally compressed, greatest body depth 2.5-2.8 in SL; interorbital region convex; mouth terminal, jaws about equal; anterior end of upper lip without a thick fleshy protrusion; maxilla with or without scales and without longitudinal ridges; teeth in jaws caniniform to villiform; gill rakers of first gill arch 5-11 + 18-20; soft rays of dorsal fin usually 10, in anal fin 8; lateral line scales 70-72; caudal fin forked. Colour bright blue; broad yellow band over most of dorsal half of body, including most of caudal pedincle fin .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Yellowtail blue snapper is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 5 - 250 m . Tropical; 35°N - 35°S, 37°E - 169°W East Africa to the Austral Islands, north to southern Japan, south to southeastern Australia.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
3.4±0.45
🐠 Schooling

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01862 × L3.08 (TL)
Max TL
50cm
Dorsal Spines
10
Dorsal Rays
11
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
9

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2015

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
37.00/100
Moderate vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.4
Predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
35°N – 35°S
Described By
Bleeker, 1869

🎣 Angling Guide

Difficulty
Beginner
Fight Rating
strong pulls with head-shakes
Best Seasons
spring,summer,fall
Best Time
incoming tide, dawn and dusk
Line Weight
15-30
Rod Type
medium-heavy spinning
Hook Size
2/0-5/0
Catch & Release
✓ Recommended
Best Months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Techniques
bottom fishing popping cork soft plastics live bait
Bait & Lures
live shrimp cut mullet soft plastic paddle-tails popping corks
Recommended Tackle
  • medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
  • 30-50 lb braid
  • fluorocarbon leader
Where to Find Them
  • grass flats
  • oyster bars
  • marsh drains
  • deeper channel edges
Tips & Tricks
Popping cork technique attracts fish from distance. Fish moving tides.
Catch & Release Tips

Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.

Regulations Summary

⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

⚡ Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 18.6 g
Omega-3 (total) 152 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Yellowtail blue snapper has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact
✓ Sustainable Choice

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (lean white fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy90 kcal
Moisture80 %
Protein18 %
Total Fat1.2 %
Ash1.2 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat0.3 g
Monounsaturated Fat0.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat0.4 g
Omega-3 Total0.3 g
EPA0.08 g
DHA0.15 g
Omega-6 Total0.05 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium18 mg
Iron0.4 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus200 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium60 mg
Zinc0.4 mg
Selenium30 µg
Vitamin B60.3 mg
Vitamin B121 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

👥 Community & Contribute

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