The Reef’s own Pitbull

The River Snapper(Lutjanus argentimaculatus) also called the Rock Salmon, Mangrove Snapper or even the Mangrove Jack is one of my favourite fish. An Indo-Pacific species, this thing comes with attitude, no matter what size the fish. There are several species of Snapper found along our coast as well as the very similar Emperors/Scavengers. I have taken Mangrove Snappers on bait and on fly in estuaries and harbours and have encountered them many times on reefs, while freediving. They are rarely common in any area but are encountered along much of the eastern coast of South Africa. I have found the fish to be largely resident i.e. if you see a fish and don’t manage to take it, relax its going to be in the same vicinity for a while. They seem to be very structure orientated, tending to hang around reef that gives them access to lots of holes/caves and food. The same holds true of the other species. Some Spearos have reliable hotspots which produce particular species with incredible regularity.

This is a species most Spearos love to take. First and foremost, their flesh makes excellent eating. Secondly, because you see them often does not mean they present an easy target. The bigger the fish the wilier they become. Inexperienced Spearos may well have seen this handsome russet-red fish, with massive dog-like teeth, at the surface, not realising that the fish appears completely different underwater. On the reef or in a cave, the fish appears silvery with a banded pattern. Superficially the fish may be confused with the Natal Wrasse (protected species).

This fish does appear to be flighty. If you pay it undue attention it will dive for cover. Again caves may provide you with a means of cornering the fish. Unfortunately, I am rapidly learning that most caves underwater do not conform to the blind tunnel theory. Most caves are a labyrinth of nooks and crannies, requiring a long breath and a torch to explore properly. Again, many caves have a neat escape route that allows the fish to dive in with you in pursuit. You look around in the cave while the fish ducks out another hole flipping you the proverbial ‘bird’. If you encounter a Snapper on the reef that ducks into a hole, check out the area around. You may very well surprize the fish coming out one of its escape routes.

I must relate a particular story regarding a Mangrove Snapper. I was following a very good diver. Basically getting pointers on how to work a reef. He was being extremely methodical. Lying at the opening of each cave patiently waiting for something to poke its head out, before taking a smaller gun and moving into the cave to scour it. I was watching this activity intently. I was about to follow, when movement close to a cave he had just left, caught my eye. A lovely Snapper was moving cautiously out of the cave and hugging the contours to move into deeper water. Its attention was riveted on my buddy. I used extreme stealth in my dive, hardly leaving a ripple at the surface as I made my way to an intercept course. I arrived on the sand, gun facing the direction the fish would be headed. I don’t even think the fish saw me, it was so intent on my buddy. The spear was fired at quite a long range, hitting it above the pectoral and severing its spine. It made a delicious and welcome appearance at dinner that evening.