{"id":11558,"date":"2017-04-23T03:30:42","date_gmt":"2017-04-23T08:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/captivafishing.net\/?p=11558"},"modified":"2025-06-07T15:44:44","modified_gmt":"2025-06-07T20:44:44","slug":"captiva-fishing-hogfish-april-23-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/captivafishing.net\/?p=11558","title":{"rendered":"Captiva Fishing, Hogfish, April 23, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Hogfish,<\/a>
Hogfish, Hank, Patrick, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sanibel Island, Sunday, April 23, 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Hogfish or Hog Snapper!<\/h2>\n
\"Sanibel<\/a>
Sanibel & Captiva Rentals<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sanibel Fishing & Captiva\u00a0Fishing, Sanibel Island, Sunday, April 23: Hogfish or Hog Snapper;<\/strong>\u00a0latest\u00a0Red Tide Report<\/a><\/strong>;\u00a0<\/strong>better water moving north of Sanibel up through Captiva & North Captiva.\u00a0 Please click here to\u00a0Book A Charter<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or call\u00a0239-472-8658.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019re located at Castaways Marina, Santiva, Sanibel Island, just before the Blind Pass bridge to Captiva Island.<\/p>\n

For more photos and\/or fishing reports from our other Captains\u2019 boats from other marinas,\u00a0please also visit our\u00a0Sanibel<\/a>,\u00a0Fort Myers<\/a>,\u00a0Seashell & Shelling<\/a>,\u00a0Florida Fishing Report<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Cuban Fishing<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>sites.\u00a0Please check here for\u00a0Live Sanibel Traffic Cams<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong>Click\u00a0here for\u00a0College Of Fishing\u00a0Hats & Apparel<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Hogfish,<\/a>
Hogfish, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Thursday, 12-17-15 ~ #Sanibel #Captiva.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“The hogfish<\/strong> or\u00a0hog snapper<\/strong> (Lachnolaimus maximus<\/i>), is a species of wrasse<\/a> native to the western Atlantic Ocean<\/a>, with a range from Nova Scotia<\/a>, Canada<\/a> to northern South America<\/a>, including the Gulf of Mexico<\/a>. This species occurs around reefs<\/a>, especially preferring areas with plentiful gorgonians<\/a>. This species is currently the only known member of its genus<\/a>.[2]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\"Hogfish<\/a>
Hogfish Or Hog Snapper, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sanibel Island, Friday, January 20, 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The hogfish is characterized by a large, laterally compressed body shape. It possesses a very elongated snout which it uses to search for crustaceans buried in the sediment. This very long “pig-like” snout and its rooting behavior give the hogfish its name. The caudal or tail fin is somewhat lunate and the pectoral fins are along the lateral sides of the body with the paired pelvic fins directly below. A prominent black spot behind the pectoral fins differentiates males from females. The dorsal fin usually is composed of three or four long dorsal spines followed by a series of shorter dorsal spines. It is a carnivore. It mainly feeds on small crustaceans.[citation needed<\/span><\/a><\/i>]<\/sup><\/p>\n

\"Hogfish<\/a>
Hogfish or Hog Snapper, Catch & Release, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sanibel Island, Friday, February 3, 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Like many wrasses, the hogfish is a sequential hermaphrodite<\/a>, which means it changes sex during different life stages. The hogfish is a protogynous<\/a>, “first female” hermaphrodite: juvenile<\/a> hogfish start out as female and then mature to become male. The change usually occurs around three years of age and about 14 inches in length.[3]<\/a><\/sup> Females and juveniles will usually start out as pale gray, brown, or reddish-brown in color, with a paler underside and no distinct patterns.<\/p>\n

\"Hogfish,<\/a>
Hogfish, Thanksgiving Fishing, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sanibel Island, Friday, November 25, 2016.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Males are distinguished by a deep, dark band spanning from the snout to the first dorsal spine<\/a>, as well as by a lateral black spot behind the pectoral fins<\/a>. Hogfish reach a maximum of 91\u00a0cm (36\u00a0in) in total length<\/a> and about 11\u00a0kg (24\u00a0lb) and have been recorded to live up to 11 years.[4]<\/a><\/sup> Spawning in South Florida occurs from November through June.[5]<\/a><\/sup> Hogfish social groups are organized into harems<\/a> where one male will mate and protect a group of females in his territory.<\/p>\n

\"Hogfish<\/a>
Hogfish Or Hog Snapper, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sunday, 1-3-16 ~ #Sanibel #Captiva.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hogfish is a commonly targeted species for many spear and reef fisherman and is regarded highly by many for its taste and food value. In 2007, the Florida landings of hogfish totaled 306,953 pounds.[6]<\/a><\/sup> The fish stocks<\/a> are regulated by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission<\/a>. Bag, size, and gear limits all have been placed on this species to ensure a healthy stock and to protect it from overfishing<\/a>.” \u00a0More background here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Chuck,<\/a>
Chuck, Hogfish, 1-21-15, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing & Fort Myers Fishing Charters & Guide Service.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)<\/strong> approved several conservation measures that are consistent with federal rules and set a new state management boundary for hogfish<\/strong> at the Thursday, November 17, 2016 meeting in St. Petersburg.<\/p>\n

‘Hogfish is an economically important species that is popular with the diving and angling community,’ said Chairman Brian Yablonski. ‘This was not an easy decision, but will help balance the species\u2019 needs while still offering opportunities for anglers.’<\/p>\n

\"Hog<\/a>
Hog Snapper, Charlie, 2-8-14, Sanibel & Captiva Islands & Fort Myers Charters & Fishing Guide Service.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hogfish is overfished and undergoing overfishing in the Florida Keys and east Florida. Federal law requires the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council to end overfishing immediately and implement a 10-year rebuilding plan.<\/p>\n

Because most hogfish off the Keys and east Florida are taken in Florida state waters, consistency with similar regulations pending approval in Atlantic federal waters is necessary to rebuild the stock.<\/p>\n

\"Hogfish<\/p>\n

The effective date for the state waters changes has not been determined but once confirmed, a date will be posted on MyFWC.com<\/a> and will be sent out via an additional press release.<\/p>\n

\"Proper<\/a>
Proper Hogfish Measurement, Courtesy Of FWC, Hogfish or Hog Snapper, Catch & Release, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sanibel Island, Sunday, April 23, 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The new state management boundary between the Keys\/east Florida and Gulf stocks will be at 25 degrees 9 minutes north latitude (a line due west of Cape Sable, which is on the Gulf side of Florida). Once effective, hogfish north of Cape Sable will be managed as Gulf hogfish, and hogfish south of that line, around the tip of Florida and up the Atlantic coast, will be managed as Atlantic hogfish. Prior to this change, the boundary for hogfish was a line following U.S. Highway 1 in the Florida Keys. This new management boundary line is closer to where Gulf and Atlantic hogfish stocks naturally separate as determined by a recent genetic study.<\/p>\n

\"Hog<\/a>
Hog Snapper, January 28, Blind Pass Wreck, Sanibel & Captiva Islands & Fort Myers Charters & Fishing Guide Service.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Other approved conservation changes include:<\/p>\n