The Caribbean blue parrotfish is a parrotfish with a uniformly blue adult coloration, found in the western Atlantic: from Maryland, USA, and Bermuda and the Bahamas to Rio de Janeiro, including the Caribbean, but not reaching the northern Gulf of Mexico. It lives on coral reefs, from 3 to 25 m; juveniles stay in seagrass. It scrapes algae and small organisms from the bottom and forms large spawning aggregations. It reaches 120 cm according to FishBase, with a common length of 35 cm. In Brazil there is only one museum record, from Alagoas. It is protected in several countries, and this profile is meant to help you recognize it and release it.
fun facts
Parrotfish scrape algae off corals and produce sand when they crush the bottom, which helps reefs.
Forms large spawning aggregations, according to FishBase.
The Brazilian blue parrotfish (Scarus trispinosus) is a different species, listed as critically endangered.
how to recognize it
identification
A parrotfish that is uniformly blue as an adult, and no other Atlantic species has that color; the smaller adults have a yellow area on top of the head, which disappears in the big ones. Larger fish grow a protruding snout and elongated tail lobes. Dorsal with 9 spines and 10 soft rays; anal with 2 spines and 9 rays. Teeth fused into plates, as in all parrotfish. Caution: the Brazilian blue parrotfish (Scarus trispinosus) is a different, threatened species.
how blue parrotfish fishing looks
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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.
In Brazil it is rare: the only museum record consulted is from Alagoas, and FishBase says the species reaches Rio de Janeiro. Outside Brazil, it is found from Maryland and the Bahamas to Bermuda, the Antilles, the Caribbean mainland and the Guianas; it does not occur in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
Habitat: Reefs of coral, from 3 to 25 m; juveniles in seagrass.
coast
Northeast CoastSoutheast Coastcoastal
states
Alagoas
calendar and clock
when to fish
best season
time of year
JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
No fishing season: the species is protected in several countries and is not fished for. It forms large spawning aggregations that deserve respect.
best time of day
Daytime. Grazes by day on the reefs and hides in crevices at night; not a night-biting fish.
weather, water and behavior
what affects the blue parrotfish
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.
cold and cold fronts
Cold water pushes the fish off shallow reefs.
atmospheric pressure
Little direct effect.
moon
Spawning aggregations follow the moon in many areas; do not fish them.
if hooked by chance, remove the hook with pliers, without taking the fish out of the water
accessories
long-nose pliers
ruler
tip from an angler
The blue parrotfish rarely takes a hook: it scrapes algae. If one comes onto the line, let it go; this profile is for recognizing the species, not for catching it.
what the law says
rules for the blue parrotfish
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 (Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667/2026). It is protected by rule in Puerto Rico (federal waters), Belize, the Dominican Republic and the San Andrés archipelago; see the rules above.
Puerto Rico (federal waters): fishing or keeping prohibited
fishing and possession prohibited; release with minimal harm
In federal waters around Puerto Rico, from 9 miles offshore, no one may fish for or keep the Caribbean blue parrotfish (blue parrotfish), the midnight parrotfish or the rainbow parrotfish; if one is caught, it must be released at once with minimal harm. Within 9 miles the DRNA rules apply; in the text of Regulation 7949 (2010) that we read, we found no rule for parrotfish, but confirm with the DRNA.
Belize: fishing, buying, selling or possessing parrotfish prohibited
capture, purchase, sale and possession prohibited
In Belize, no one may fish in the country's waters, or buy, sell or possess "grazers" fish, defined in the rule as those of the family Scaridae (including the genera Scarus and Sparisoma) and the family Acanthuridae (surgeonfish). The offense carries a fine of up to US$500, or up to 6 months in prison, or both. The rule dates from 2009; the 2020 Fisheries Resources Act added rules, so confirm it is still in force with the Belize Fisheries Department.
Dominican Republic: parrotfish closed season, 2025 to 2027
capture, fishing and sale prohibited for two years, from July 2, 2025confirm with the agency
Decree 266-25, of 2025, opens a new two-year closed season, until 2027, for reef herbivorous fish: capture, fishing and sale are prohibited for the family Scaridae (parrotfish, called jabón, butú and cotorra), as well as surgeonfish, angelfish, butterflyfish and sea cucumbers. Decree 418-21 already banned these families from 2021 to 2023. The text of the 2025 decree was not read, and the exact end date must be confirmed with the Ministry of Environment.
Colombia (San Andrés archipelago): parrotfish fishing and trade banned since 2019
fishing (including sport) and trade prohibited in the archipelagoconfirm with the agency
In July 2019 Coralina, the environmental corporation of the San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina archipelago, banned all commercial, industrial, sport and recreational fishing of 14 parrotfish species (and of surgeonfish, butterflyfish and angelfish), as well as trade, possession, storage and shipment to the rest of the country. We did not verify the resolution number or whether the species is on the list: confirm with Coralina.
Brazil: threatened parrotfish are protected; check the identification
capture and trade of nationally listed parrotfish prohibited, with management exceptionsNorth CoastNortheast CoastSoutheast CoastSouth Coast
Portaria GM/MMA 1.667/2026 lists as threatened the Brazilian blue parrotfish (Scarus trispinosus, CR), Scarus zelindae (EN) and Sparisoma amplum, axillare, frondosum and rocha (VU). Portaria GM/MMA 1.749, of July 27, 2026, approves the recovery plan for the blue parrotfish and gives it full protection: capture, transport, storage, custody, handling, processing and sale are prohibited. For Scarus zelindae, Sparisoma axillare and Sparisoma frondosum, sustainable use and management apply only under the conditions of Portaria MMA 129/2018, and the other VU, EN and CR species follow Portaria GM/MMA 1.666/2026. The Caribbean blue parrotfish is not on the list, but it is rare in Brazil and can be confused with listed parrotfish: when in doubt, release it.
Mexico: up to 10 marine fish per angler per day, no more than 5 of the same species
10 marine specimens per angler per day; no more than 5 of the same species
In Mexico's federal waters, sport and recreational fishing for marine species has a limit of 10 specimens per angler per day, with no more than 5 of any one species. Fish over the limit may only be taken if released alive. Sport-caught fish belong to the permit holder and may not be sold; fish may not be landed as fillets (they may only be filleted on board for consumption during the trip). For spearfishing the limit is 5 fish per day. Fishing from a boat requires a permit.
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.
If it is caught on a hook or in a net, release it alive at once, with wet hands and without lifting it out of the water; do not hold it by the gills. Photos only if quick.
in the kitchen
Where it is allowed, it is eaten fresh or salted. FishBase records ciguatera cases; since it is protected in several countries, this profile gives no recipe.
calculator
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01259, b = 3.05; 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
The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.
scientificFishBase: Scarus coeruleus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology and IUCN status. Page checked Oct 13, 2026. FishBase gives no maximum weight, and the 120 cm length is the value published by FishBase; because of doubt about that value, the profile leaves the maximum weight blank. The common weight was calculated from the length-weight relationship.
scientificFishBase: nomes populares de Scarus coeruleusNames by country and language. FishBase gives no Portuguese name: 'budião-azul-caribenho' is an editorial designation (the parrotfish group, in Portuguese, plus the region), so as not to confuse it with the Brazilian blue parrotfish (Scarus trispinosus).
scientificGBIF: registros de Scarus coeruleus no BrasilChecked Oct 13, 2026 in the open GBIF database (country = Brazil). Records come from collections and observations and show where the species has been seen, not how abundant it is. There is only 1 record in Brazil, in Alagoas.
