blackear wrasse
Halichoeres poeyi
Small wrasse of pale seagrass beds, with a black spot behind the eye. It is hardly ever caught on a rod.
Also called: bindalo, bindalo-de-orelha-preta, doncella orejinegra, blackear wrasse
- maximum
- 20 cm
- depth
- 1–70 m
who is the blackear wrasse
Wrasse of the family Labridae, reaching 20 cm. It occurs in the western Atlantic, from southern Florida and the Bahamas to São Paulo, Brazil. It lives in pale seagrass beds and is uncommon on reefs or in muddy bays, from 1 to 70 m deep. It is protogynous hermaphroditic: it is born female and can become male. During breeding, it forms courtship groups. In fishing it has almost no interest, being small, and it is sold for aquariums.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the blackear wrasse; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Small specimens are yellowish green, with a black spot ringed in pale red behind the eye and a small black spot on the rear base of the dorsal fin. Large males are dull green, with reddish-orange spots at the center of the scales. The tail has pink, lengthwise and diagonal bands with blue edges. The black spot behind the eye is the easiest sign to see in the smaller fish.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Western Atlantic, from southern Florida and the Bahamas to São Paulo, including the Caribbean. In Brazil it ranges from Ceará to São Paulo, with the reefs of Maranhão.
Habitat: Seagrass beds in clear water, 1 to 70 m deep.
coast
rules for the blackear wrasse
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
No dangerous spines or venom, and it is harmless to handle.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00955, b = 3.08; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Halichoeres poeyi (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Halichoeres poeyiNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
