{"id":13104,"date":"2017-12-11T05:56:24","date_gmt":"2017-12-11T11:56:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/captivafishing.net\/?p=13104"},"modified":"2025-06-07T19:31:40","modified_gmt":"2025-06-08T00:31:40","slug":"captiva-fishing-hogfish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/captivafishing.net\/?p=13104","title":{"rendered":"Captiva Fishing, Hogfish!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Hogfish<\/a>
Hogfish or Hog Snapper, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sanibel Island, Sunday, December 10, 2017, [File Photo – Wednesday, February 8, 2017].<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, December 10, 2017: Hogfish!<\/h2>\n

\"CaptivaRentals.org:<\/a>Captiva Fishing Report, Sunday, December 10: Hogfish, Catch & Release;<\/strong>\u00a0Red Tide Report<\/a> <\/strong>(Caloosahatchee freshwater runoff may be lessening a bit; some Red Tide but it has broken up and largely dispersed); more fishing reports from other areas and Captains below.<\/p>\n

Sunday, December 10:\u00a0 Hogfish, & Snapper, Near Offshore Structiure; Pompano & Bluefish schools running inshore, Snook in the passes, Seatrout on grass flats, Redfish on oyster bars, and Grouper on the structure.<\/p>\n

Please also visit the\u00a0Sanibel<\/a>,\u00a0Fort Myers<\/a>,\u00a0Florida Fishing Report<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Cuban Fishing<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>sites.\u00a0 <\/strong>Better water moving north of Sanibel up through Captiva & North Captiva.<\/p>\n

Please click here to\u00a0Book A Charter<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or call\u00a0239-472-8658 <\/strong>and here for\u00a0Live Sanibel Traffic Cams<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"Hogfish,<\/a>
Hogfish, Catch & Release, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sanibel Island, Sunday, December 10, 2017, [File Photo – January 28, 2013].<\/figcaption><\/figure>\u201cThe\u00a0hogfish<\/b>\u00a0(Lachnolaimus maximus<\/i>), is a species of\u00a0wrasse<\/a>\u00a0native to the western\u00a0Atlantic Ocean<\/a>, with a range from\u00a0Nova Scotia<\/a>,\u00a0Canada<\/a>\u00a0to northern\u00a0South America<\/a>, including the\u00a0Gulf of Mexico<\/a>. This species occurs around\u00a0reefs<\/a>, especially preferring areas with plentiful\u00a0gorgonians<\/a>. This species is currently the only known member of its\u00a0genus<\/a>.[2]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n
\"Jimmy<\/a>
Jimmy Burnsed & Hogfish, Respective Tooth Views, Catch & Release, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sanibel Island, Tuesday, March 21, 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.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0sequential hermaphrodite<\/a>, which means it changes sex during different life stages. The hogfish is a\u00a0protogynous<\/a>, “first female” hermaphrodite:\u00a0juvenile<\/a>\u00a0hogfish 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>\u00a0Females 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

Males are distinguished by a deep, dark band spanning from the snout to the first\u00a0dorsal spine<\/a>, as well as by a lateral black spot behind the\u00a0pectoral fins<\/a>. Hogfish reach a maximum of 91\u00a0cm (36\u00a0in)\u00a0in total length<\/a>\u00a0and about 11\u00a0kg (24\u00a0lb) and have been recorded to live up to 11 years.[4]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Spawning in South Florida occurs from November through June.[5]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Hogfish social groups are organized into\u00a0harems<\/a>\u00a0where one male will mate and protect a group of females in his territory.<\/p>\n

\"Hogfish,<\/a>
Hogfish, Hank, Patrick, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sanibel Island, Sunday, April 23, 2017.<\/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>\u00a0The\u00a0fish stocks<\/a>\u00a0are regulated by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and\u00a0Florida 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\u00a0overfishing<\/a>.”\u00a0\u00a0Please see more information here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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

“Federal waters early closure:\u00a0<\/strong>All federal waters south of Cape Sable in the Gulf, around the tip of Florida, and up the Atlantic coast closed to recreational and commercial hogfish harvest\u00a0 Aug. 24.\u00a0
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Recreational harvest of hogfish in state waters remains open.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Commercial harvest of hogfish closed Aug. 24 in both state and federal waters from Cape Sable in the Gulf, around the tip of Florida, and up the Atlantic coast.<\/p>\n

See below for other changes that go into effect Aug. 24 in state waters.<\/p>\n

\"Hogfish<\/a>
Hogfish Or Hog Snapper 2, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sanibel Island, Tuesday, March 21, 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

State waters:<\/strong>\u00a0The FWC approved several management changes to hogfish at the November Commission meeting in St. Petersburg. These changes will go into effect in on Aug. 24, 2017. Approved changes include:<\/p>\n