Hogfish

Until this morning, I had only seen photos of this fish, but I recognized it from many years of pouring through my Reef Fish Identification book.  And the amazing thing was that this fish was completely calm, and didn't flee when I approached.

Today, I am sharing my photos of a hogfish.  It is a member of the wrasse family.  This fish was about 12 inches long.  It's coloration is mottled.  The species grows longer than 2 feet, and the black bar on the tail is not fully developed, so this fish is not an adult.  The photos were taken at a depth of about 35 feet.