Common Name:  Striped Snapper, Spanish Flag Snapper, Gold Band Snapper, Stripey, 

Local Name:  Alsis (Tagalog); Bad-lisan (Cebuano)

Max Size:  40 cm

Biodiversity: Saltwater

Depth: 1 – 80 meters

Fishing Season:  All Year Long

Minimum Size Limit:  None

Recommended Bait/Lures:  Shrimp, small fish, lures, small jigs

IUCN Red List Status:  (NE) Not Evaluated

The Stripey is one of our small species of schooling snapper that can be found throughout the islands around reefs, slopes, and bays. They often school is large numbers up to 20 or 30 individuals.  Their golden colored lateral lines distinguish them from other species of snapper which have similar size and body shape.  These are not one of the most common species to be caught on rod and reel though occasionally they can be.  Have you caught a stripey here in the Philippines?  If so please send us your photos.

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Philippines Record:

(Currently no Philippine record for this Species)

IGFA World Record at time of publication of this article:    .68 kgs  Caught in Singapore by Steve Wozniak, 2010.

Was able to capture this rare shot on my gopro of a good size snapper cruising around the shallows.  I noticed that these predators usually have a territory that they stick to.  Unlike groupers and some other predators these snapper are constantly moving, swimming back and forth, patrolling.  Enjoy the rare capture 🙂

Two-Spot Banded Snapper caught in Cebu

Common Name:    Snapper, Scribbled Wrasse,

Local Names:  Bambangon, Pargito, Maya-Maya (Tagalog); Awnan, Malaponti, (Cebuano)

Max Size:  25 cm 

Biodiversity:  Marine, Reef-Associated,

Depth:  3 – 36 m

Fishing Season:  All Year Long

Minimum Size Limit: 10 none

Recommended Bait/Lures:  Shrimp, Fish,

IUCN Red List Status:  Not Evaluated (NE)

This is a somewhat uncommon species of small snapper found around reefs and sea slopes of the country.  It is easily identified by its eye catching color, its white band running nose to tail, and its two small spots located just under the dorsal fin.  These fish feed mainly on small fish and crustaceans and are most likely to be caught while fishing around reefs using small lures and live or dead small fish or shrimp. Smaller hooks would be required to catch these fish because their small mouth size. These fish both school in large numbers and also swim solitary.

Common Name:   Snapper, Deepwater Snapper, Stones Fusilier

Local Name:   ?? (Tagalog);  ?? (Cebuano)

Max Size:  50 cm

Biodiversity: Marine, Bathydemersal, Deep-Water

Fishing Season:  All Year Long

Minimum Size Limit:  None

Recommended Bait/Lures:  Fish, Squid

IUCN Red List Status:  Not Evaluated (NE)

These fish are found in extremely deep water and are therefore quite difficult for most anglers to catch.  To catch these fish specialized deep sea tackle is need such as PE braided line, heavy lead weights, lights, and electric reels.

Maori Sea Perch caught in Subic Bay

Common Name:   Snapper, Rubberlip Snapper, Sea Perch,

Local Name:  Maya Maya, Bambangon  (Tagalog), Maya-Maya, Kilawan (Cebuano)

Max Size:  80 cm ( 11 kgs )

Biodiversity: Marine, Reef-Associated

Depth:  10 – 100 m

Fishing Season:  All Year Long

Minimum Size Limit:  10 inches

Recommended Bait/Lures:  Shrimp, small fish and crustaceans

IUCN Red List Status:  Not Evaluated (NE)

Photo courtesy of Andrew Leighton

Note the pattern on the face

Spotted Sea Bass

Common Name:   Snapper, Spotted Sea Bass,

Local Name:  Maya Maya, Pargo  (Tagalog), Tandungan, Mangagat (Cebuano)

Max Size:  100 cm

Biodiversity: Brackish, Freshwater

Depth:  1 – ?? m

Fishing Season:  All Year Long

Minimum Size Limit:  None

Recommended Bait/Lures:  Shrimp, small fish and crustaceans; Jigs, lures

IUCN Red List Status:  Not Evaluated (NE)

This is a another snapper species from the Lutjanidae family that is found in the Philippine waters.  This particular species if quite a bit more rare than the Mangrove Snapper and is reportedly only caught in estuaries and rivers. They are distinguished from other snapper species by their olive green to brown color with a whitish underbelly.  They also have large bands on their sides and a large dark blotch towards their tails.   According to reports these are abundant in Mindanao around Dipolog City.  They reportedly can reach up to 25kgs.

This species of snapper seems to be unique to South East Asia as it is only reportedly be documented in the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands and China. That makes this a great species for anglers to target who are looking for rare or unique fish.

Mark Omilig 7.5kg Freshwater Snapper

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Philippine Rod and Reel Record:

Angler:   Luigi Beja

Location:   Cagayan De Oro, Mindanao

Date:   December 31, 2016

Weight:   13 Kilograms

Nice Black Snapper caught in Mindanao

Common Name:   Snapper, Nuguini Bass, Papuan Snapper, Black Bass

Local Name:  Maya Maya, Pargo  (Tagalog), Ahaan, Pantahan, Mangagat (Cebuano)

Max Size:  100 cm (19.2 kgs)

Biodiversity: Marine, Brackish, Freshwater, Benthopelagic

Depth:  1 – ?? m

Fishing Season:  All Year Long

Minimum Size Limit:  15 inches

Recommended Bait/Lures:  Shrimp, small fish and crustaceans; Jigs, lures

IUCN Red List Status:  Not Evaluated (NE)

This species is somewhat rare here in the Philippines.  The more commonly caught snapper when shore fishing are Mangrove Snappers.  The Black Snapper are very similar in look and color to the Mangrove Snapper the main difference however being the black color and yellow trim on the fins.  I have identified this as Lutjanus goldiei however there is a possibility this is another species.

Mark’s 3kg Snapper from Dipolog

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Philippine Rod and Reel Record:

Angler:  Mark Omilig

Location: Dipolog City, Mindanao

Date:  September 24, 2015

Weight: 13 kilograms

Length:

Bait:  crab