sunshinefish
Chromis insolata
A damselfish of outer reefs, 20 to 100 m deep, which feeds on plankton. Of no interest to the line, it sometimes turns up in traps and beach nets.
Also called: donzela-sol, castañeta sol, cromis sol, sunshinefish
- maximum
- 16 cm
- depth
- 20–100 m
who is the sunshinefish
The sunshine damselfish is a small Pomacentridae fish that reaches 16 cm. It lives on outer reefs facing the open sea, between 20 and 100 m deep. Adults are olive brown on top and white underneath. Juveniles are yellow to yellowish green on top, with a thin blue band from the snout to the eye. It feeds on plankton. During spawning the pair bonds, and the male guards and aerates the eggs. It is caught by chance in traps and beach nets and enters the aquarium trade, with no importance for rod fishing.
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 sunshinefish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- The male guards and aerates the eggs, which stick to the bottom.
identification
Adults are olive brown on top and abruptly white below the eye and at the base of the pectoral fin. The dorsal and caudal fins are yellowish at the rear. They have a black spot at the upper base of the pectoral fin, which the bright blue damselfish does not have. Juveniles are yellow to yellowish green on top, violet on the sides, and have a bright blue line from the snout to the eye.
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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
It occurs in the western Atlantic, in Florida, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. In Latin America it is found in Mexico, Belize, Cuba, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas.
Habitat: Outer reefs and reef edges, 20 to 100 m.
rules for the sunshinefish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
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.
It is harmless to handle. Since it is small and of no interest to the line, release it if it turns up by chance.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.0123, b = 3.03; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). 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: Chromis insolata (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Chromis insolataNames by country and language.
