Bluestripe Snapper

Snappers are commonly found in shallow reefs, but most native Hawaiian snappers reside in depths greater than 200 feet including 'opakapaka, 'ulu-'ula and onaga. Hawai'i has 13 species of snappers including 2 introduced species.

This snapper is characterized by its yellow body with four narrow, bright blue horizontal stripes. They are a thrill to watch as they swarm around in large schools. The were introduced to Hawaiʻi from the Marquesas in 1958 for commercial reasons. Unfortunately, the are considered a failure in island markets and a pest to local fisherman. The Tahitian name, taʻape, is now what is commonly used in Hawaiʻi. They grow up to 15 inches, but usually smaller. .