Dispatch Method:

Beware of the sharp teeth of red bass when handling them. They should be killed humanely by iki jime or a firm knock to the head before placing them in an ice slurry after bleeding. This species is known to be ciguatoxic and because of this its harvest is prohibited in some parts of its range.

Fish Description:

• Red Bass are red with brownish to black shading along the back and uppermost rays of the pectoral fin.
  
• Young and some adults have two silvery blotches on the back. First spines on the pelvic and anal fins white.
  
• The eyes are red or orange and deep grooves run from the eyes to the nostrils.
  
• Red bass are slow growing and long lived, maximum recorded age 55 years.

Fish Distribution:

• This species can be encountered throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region from East Africa throughout Asia and as far east as the Line Islands.
  
• Sometimes found on inshore rocky reefs, but more common around coral reefs, particularly on remote oceanic islands and coral atolls.

Fish Size Common Length:

40-50 cm, maximum size around 100 cm and 13 kg.