IT'S HOG FISH TIME - Spearfishing in Belize

HOGFISH TIME - In Belize
Hey went spearfishing with my two best buds yesterday in Belize, (Dennis Matus & Randy Smith).  Randy missed it, but I got him!!!!  A big male Hogfish.  It was a great experience, I truly love spear fishing.   This is one of my favorite fish to catch,  because it tastes so good. 

The Hogfish is a species of fish, which belongs to the Wrasse, family. The Hogfish is one of the larger species of wrasses and is very abundant here in Belize.

The Hogfish has a very elongated snout which it uses to search for crustaceans buried in the sediment. Interestingly it is from this very long “pig-like” snout and its rooting behavior, that the Hogfish gets its name.

A prominent black spot behind the pectoral fins, differentiates male from females. The dorsal fin, usually is composed of three or four long dorsal spines followed by a series of shorter dorsal spines.

A very interesting fact about this fish..........a Hogfish, can change sex during different life stages in its life.. A Hogfish can start out as a female juvenile and then after a certain age mature to become a male. The change usually occurs around 3 years of age and about 14inches in length.

Males are signified by their coloration and have a deep dark band spanning from their snout to the first dorsal spine as well as the lateral black spot behind the pectoral fins. Hogfish reach a maximum size of about 3 feet and approximately 22 pounds and have been recorded to live up to 11 years.

I have one female and one male Hogfish in the picture above.  These are going to make good eaten tonight!  Crank up the stove and put the drinks in the refrigerator mom - we've coming home!

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