Two-spot red snapper (red bass)

A heavy, red to brick-red snapper with a darker back, dark fins, a deep groove in front of the eye, and — in young and medium fish — two silvery-white spots on the back below the dorsal fin (they fade in big adults). Strong canine teeth.

4–15 lb.

About 3 ft (90 cm) and about 28 lb (12.5 kg).

Fish, crabs, shrimp, squid and octopus.

An aggressive reef predator of outer reef slopes and drop-offs; young fish mimic harmless damselfish and chromis to get close to prey.

Found from Red Sea & Arabian Gulf (Egypt, Oman, UAE), East Africa & Indian Ocean Islands, Southern Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives & Pakistan, Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam), Indonesia (Bali, Komodo, Raja Ampat, Sulawesi), Philippines, China, Hong Kong & Taiwan, Japan & South Korea, Queensland & the Great Barrier Reef, Northern Territory & Western Australia, South Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea, Guam & Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa. Coral reefs, lagoons and outer slopes from the Red Sea and East Africa across the Indian Ocean to the Line Islands and Marquesas, Japan's Ryukyu Islands and Australia. Not in Hawaii.

Coral reefs, lagoons and outer slopes from the Red Sea and East Africa across the Indian Ocean to the Line Islands and Marquesas, Japan's Ryukyu Islands and Australia. Not in Hawaii.

10–600 ft, mostly 30–200 ft.

30–200 ft on reef edges and drop-offs.

Year-round.

Dawn, dusk and night.

Moving tides along reef drop-offs.

Any fishable weather.

Fish strips, whole squid, live small fish.

Jigs, slow-pitch jigs, soft plastics and deep-diving plugs; also hits poppers over shallow reef.

Heavy bottom or jigging rod with a strong reel — it pulls hard for the coral.

5/0–8/0 circle or J hooks; strong assist hooks on jigs.

50–80 lb braid.

60–100 lb fluorocarbon.

Drop baits or jigs along the reef edge, and as soon as you feel the bite, lift hard and crank to get it away from the coral.

If a 'red snapper' bites you on a reef in the Indian Ocean or Pacific, look for the two white back spots and the dark fins before you think about keeping it.

Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Edible but not prized — strong or bony; many anglers release it.

Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.

Small fish are eaten in some places, but because of ciguatera most anglers release it.

One of the fish most often linked to ciguatera poisoning across the Indo-Pacific — large fish especially. Don't eat it unless locals are sure it's safe. Sharp canine teeth and gill covers.

Because of ciguatera, its sale is banned or discouraged in several islands and countries; in many places it's only caught and released. Check local rules. Rules are set by each country and state — from licenses and bag limits in South Africa, Australia and the Gulf states to marine parks across the Indian Ocean and Pacific where fishing is limited or banned — check the local regulations where you fish.

Long-lived reef predator; release it.