Saltwater · Year-round on Caribbean reefs

Blackbar Hogfish

Bodianus speciosus

A handsome western Atlantic hogfish of Caribbean reefs, named for the dark bar on its rear body; a prized incidental catch on shrimp and crab baits fished tight to the reef.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Blackbar Hogfish — Photo: Thibaud Aronson, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Dark vertical bar on rear body below the dorsal fin in adults
Reddish to brown body, juveniles paler with mottling
Elongate hogfish snout with protruding canine teeth at front
Forked tail with pointed lobes in large adults
To about 46 cm

Habits

Benthic feeder on molluscs, crabs, sea urchins and brittle stars
Solitary or in small groups over reef slopes
Adults patrol sand-reef edges by day
Juveniles may act as cleaners on reefs

Distribution

Andros & the Bahamas · The Bahamas★ Primary

Florida Keys, FL · FloridaCommon

Yucatán Peninsula · Quintana Roo & YucatánCommon

Belize City & the Cayes · BelizeCommon

Bay Islands & North Coast, Honduras · HondurasCommon

Havana & the Northern Cays, Cuba · CubaCommon

Punta Cana & the North Coast, Dominican Republic · Dominican RepublicCommon

San Juan & the Island Coast, Puerto Rico · Puerto RicoCommon

Daytona Beach, FL · FloridaOccasional

Panama — Pacific, Canal & Caribbean · PanamaOccasional

Where to find them

Reef slopes in the Bahamas
Patch reefs off Belize and Honduras Bay Islands
Rocky reefs off Puerto Rico and Cuba

Where they live

Coral reefs 5-25 mRocky reef slopesSand channels beside reef

How to catch them

Reef bottom fishing Boat

Rig: Light bottom rig, No. 1-1/0 hook, small sinker

Bait/lure: Shrimp or crab piece

Key tip: Fish tight to reef edges; hogfish pick baits delicately then run for cover — strike promptly.

Rock reef fishing Rock fishing

Rig: Float or free-line rig with small strong hook

Bait/lure: Crab piece

Key tip: Work rocky points at slack tide; keep tackle light for wary fish in clear water.

Best baits & lures

Shrimp piecesCrab piecesSquid strips

Techniques for Blackbar Hogfish →

Baseline setup

Rod: Light spinning rod 6-7 ft
Line: 8-12 lb braid or mono
Terminal: Small hook No. 4-1/0, split shot or 1/2 oz egg sinker, fluorocarbon leader

Recommended gear for this species

Rod · Best value

7'6" medium-heavy jigging rod

≈ US$110-170

Works 2-6 oz jigs over rock and reef and still has the backbone to lift a halibut off the bottom.

Line · Budget

50 lb braid with 40 lb leader (200 yd)

≈ US$25-40

Thin braid cuts the current so jigs stay vertical; the leader shrugs off rock and teeth.

Terminal · Budget

Leadhead jigs, swimbaits and two-hook bottom rigs

≈ US$25-40

A leadhead with a swimbait tail is the universal bottom-fish catcher, from rockfish to cod to flounder.

Picks are never paid placements. Prices are guides; price links are coming soon and none is an affiliate link yet.

Typical size

To about 46 cm and around 1-2 kg; most catches are 25-35 cm.

On the table

Good eating where legal, like other hogfishes; check local rules and ciguatera advice for larger reef fish.

Similar species

HogfishTrue hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) has a steep forehead, long dorsal spines and no single black rear bar; blackbar is a smaller Bodianus with that diagnostic bar.

Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →

Plan a trip for Blackbar Hogfish

Build today's plan

⚠ Heads-up: Blackbar Hogfish doesn't occur around Vancouver, BC (or is very rare there), so it's not a sensible local target. Your plan stays in Vancouver, BC and is built around the fish that actually live there.