Parrot Fish

PARROT FISH

Family Scaridae

DESCRIPTION:

Parrot fish would probably be the most speared tropical fish.  This is because of their superb eating quality and the fact that, as a herbivore, they are almost always free from ciguatera poisoning.  Consisting of around 90 species parrot fish are grouped by dentition - their teeth are tightly packed into a bird-like beak which they use to rasp algae from the coral.  They come in all shapes and sizes - many a touring New Zealand team has been confounded by the number of different parrot species on a comp list - with the largest species being the bumpheaded parrot fish which may grow to 1.5m.  Anything over a couple of kilos however should be considered fair game.

FEEDING HABITS & HABITAT:

Parrot fish live on the algae that grows on coral or rocky reefs which they scrape off with their beak.  They may be found from right in the shallows under the breakers to well past where any freedive spearfisherman could find them.

HUNTING TECHNIQUES:

Large parrot fish can be extremely wary and difficult to approach.  When diving in the shallows it is possible to 'snoop' them as we do snapper here but in deeper water different techniques are needed.  When diving for deep reef fish it is best to pick the spot that you would like to dive to from the surface, dive down and pin yourself to the bottom like when weedlining.  There you can hopefully entice fish in close enough for a shot by throwing sand over your shoulder or by relying on your mere presence alone.  These fish do not seem to like any movement so when you are on the bottom stay put and avoid any large actions.  When the fish voids it bowels in a puff of sand you know you've blown it and the fish has spooked.