yellowhead wrasse
Halichoeres garnoti
A small reef wrasse with a yellow head and adult males with a strongly marked black band. It is hardly ever caught by rod fishing.
Also called: gudião-amarelo, bodião-de-cabeça-amarela, doncella cabeciamarilla, yellowhead wrasse
- maximum
- 19 cm
- depth
- 4–60 m
who is the yellowhead wrasse
A fish of the family Labridae, reaching 19.3 cm. It occurs in the western Atlantic, from Bermuda and southern Florida to southeastern Brazil. It lives on reefs and exposed rocks, 4 to 60 m deep, and is always on the move. It feeds on a variety of invertebrates. During spawning it forms courtship aggregations. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite: it is born female and can change into a male, with the sex change happening at 7.3 cm. In fishing it is of little interest because of its small size, 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 yellowhead wrasse; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- The sex change happens at 7.3 cm in length.
identification
Juveniles are yellow, with a silvery blue stripe along the flank. Terminal males (the largest) have a vertical black bar just behind the tip of the pectoral fin, which joins a large black area on the upper body, reaching the top of the caudal peduncle and the upper part of the tail. It is one of the easiest wrasses to recognize at every stage.
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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 Bermuda and southern Florida to southeastern Brazil, including the Caribbean. In Brazil there are records from the Northeast and Southeast.
Habitat: Reefs and exposed rocks, 4 to 60 m deep.
coast
rules for the yellowhead 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 = 0.00977, b = 3.14; 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 garnoti (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 garnotiNames 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.
