Snorkel Hawaii - Goatsbeard Brotula

Average Weight/Length

Max length : 100.0 cm TL male/unsexed; common length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed

Family, Genus, Class & Etymology

Family	Mullidae
Description	Goatfishes
Environment	Brackish & Marine
Etymology	Latin, mullus = soft
Genus	6
No. of Species	87
Order	Perciformes
Class	Actinopterygii
Reproductive Guild	Nonguarders
Distribution	Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, rarely in brackish waters. Elongated body. Dorsal fins far apart. First dorsal fin with 6-8 spines; second dorsal with one spine and 8-9 soft rays, shorter than anal fin. Spines in anal fin 1 or 2, with 5-8 soft rays. Forked caudal fin. Vertebrae 24. Chin with 2 long barbels, which contain chemosensory organs and are used to probe the sand or holes in the reef for benthic invertebrates or small fish. Many brightly colored. Pelagic spawners. Up to 60 cm maximum length. Valued as food fish. Not popular for aquaria, but do well in right settings. Mullus (Latin) = mullet. Habitat: sand-associated, shallow habitats

Location Habitat

Benthopelagic on shelf and upper slope. Larvae found in the epipelagic far offshore. Found in shallow lagoon and seaward reefs and occurs at depths of at least 220 m. Adults (30-90 cm) move to depths of 100-650 m. A nocturnal species, rarely seen for it lives in caves and crevices during the day and periodically emerges from cover at night to feed on crustaceans, mainly crabs, and fishes.

Biology & Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 109-139; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 80 - 106. In addition to meristic counts, B. multibarbata differs from B. townsendi by possessing a larger eye (width>interorbital space) and having slightly different coloration (dark brown with a submarginal black band and narrow white border on the dorsal and anal fins versus greenish to orange brown with orange-bordered dorsal and anal fins).

Life Cycle & Mating Behavior

Oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass

Geographic Species Map (Fishbase.org Map)

Summary of Distribution: Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Pitcairn, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island. Also reported from Persian Gulf

Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)

Sport Fishing Techniques

	Drifting Drift fishing allows you to fish over a variety of habitats as your boat drifts with the currents or wind movement. You can drift fish on the bottom or change the depth with a bobber or float. Natural baits work best. But jigs, lures and artificial flies will produce good results, too. You can drift fish on the ocean, as well as ponds, lakes, rivers and streams any time of the day and year..

	Still Fishing The simplest of fishing methods can also be the most effective. Still-fishing is a matter of putting your bait in the water and waiting for a fish to find it. Depending on water depth and what you’re trying to catch, you may want to still-fish near the surface, at a mid-water depth, or right down on the bottom. Using a float, or bobber, makes it easy to fish near the surface, or you can add sinkers to your line to fish deeper. Still fishing is a versatile way to go. You can do it from a pier, a bridge, an anchored boat or from shore. You can still fish on the bottom or off the bottom in ponds, lakes, rivers and streams for a variety of species. And you can still fish during most seasons and during any part of the day. You have to be very patient. You need to wait for the fish to bite. Still fishing is a versatile way to go. You can do it from a pier, a bridge, an anchored boat or from shore. You can still fish on the bottom in ponds, lakes, rivers and streams for a variety of species. .

Food Rating

Game Rating : 7/10

Game Description :

Utilized fresh and eaten steamed, pan-fried and baked

Picture (Fish)

Goatsbeard Brotula