Bahamas Yellow Goatfish and Yellowtail Snapper

Bahamas snorkeling is an experience that is enriched by the chance to see the yellow goatfish (Mulloidichthys martinicus) and yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus), two yellow colored fish that swim in schools along The Bahamas' many tropical reefs.

Some snorkelers in the Bahamas refer to the yellow goatfish as either the yellow saddle or goldsaddle goldfish. The yellowsaddle is distinguished by a pair of barbels andndash; commonly called whiskers andndash; hanging down from their chins. The fish uses these whiskers, which are packed with sensory nerve endings, to search through ocean bottom sediment looking for a meal. The yellow goatfish is a solitary hunter by night but hunts in a large school by day, which explains why divers generally see them swimming in a large pack. The fish typically feeds on small fish, and can grow up to fifteen inches in length. The fish has a white or pinkish coloration, complimented by a horizontal yellow stripe that runs from its eye to its tail.

The yellowtail snapper congregates in areas near deep coral reefs, so if seeing this beautiful species is on your Bahamas snorkeling checklist, you might have to dive deep. The snapper has a very unique coloration, with an olive, or blue-colored back and narrow pink and yellow stripes marking its belly. The fish's most noticeable visual characteristic, though, is the prominent yellow stripe that begins at its mouth and continues uninterrupted to the tail fin. The fish can reach a maximum length of 30 inches, and very rarely exceeds five pounds. Because of its bright coloration, the fish hunts at night, and prefers to eat small fish, water worms, and crustaceans, like shrimp and crabs.