clown wrasse
Halichoeres maculipinna
Small wrasse of shallow reefs, with a wide black band from the eye to the tail and a golden line just above it. It is hardly ever caught on a rod.
Also called: bodião-palhaço, doncella payaso, doncella lista negra, clown wrasse
- maximum
- 18 cm
- depth
- 2–24 m
who is the clown wrasse
Wrasse of the family Labridae, reaching 18 cm. It occurs in the western Atlantic, from North Carolina and Bermuda to Brazil, throughout the Caribbean. It lives on shallow reefs and rocky areas, from 2 to 24 m, and also on sargassum beds. It is solitary and wary, and hard to approach. During breeding, it forms courtship groups. It is protogynous hermaphroditic: it is born female and can become male. 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 clown wrasse; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
It has a wide black band from the eye to the base of the tail, with a broad golden line just above it. A large black spot sits in the middle of the flank, and three transverse red bands appear on the top of the head. Large males are pink and green, lose the dark lateral band and gain a larger black spot in the middle of the body and on the spiny part of the dorsal fin. Among small wrasses, the golden line above the black band is the strongest sign.
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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 North Carolina and Bermuda to Brazil, throughout the Caribbean. In Brazil it ranges from Paraíba to Rio de Janeiro, and also occurs in Maranhão and Trindade Island.
Habitat: Shallow reefs and rocky areas, 2 to 24 m deep, and sargassum beds.
coast
rules for the clown 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 = 0.01047, b = 3.21; 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 maculipinna (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 maculipinnaNames 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.
