Schoolmaster Snapper

Lutjanus apodus

A curious fish that seems to get himself into the picture on many occasions. They seem to be the most populous of the snappers. Juveniles can be easily confused with the Dog Snapper when in a reddish color phase. Schoolmasters can change their appearance from stripped to mottled very quickly. They may have the nose through the eye strip on their heads similar to the Gray Snapper, but the Gray Snapper never has body bars. They can also be confused with the Cubera Snapper because of the body bars, but the Cubera snapper never has yellow fins. See my YouTube Video of a Schoolmaster.