Pastel-green Wrasse

Halichoeres chloropterus

The Pastel-green Wrasse (Halichoeres chloropterus) is a small Indo-Pacific reef wrasse with variable pastel green to brown coloration and a distinct dark eye spot at the rear of the dorsal fin in many adults. It lives around coral-rich reefs and rubble zones, foraging actively over the bottom.

Saltwater

Pastel-green Wrasse reference image — Rickard Zerpe, cc-by, via Wikimedia Commons. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Identification points

Slender wrasse body with pastel green to green-brown tones and irregular pale striping/markings.
Distinct dark ocellus near the rear of the dorsal fin in many individuals.
Small terminal mouth and pointed snout adapted for picking prey from the bottom.

Habitat

Coral reefs, reef flats, rubble slopes, lagoon margins, and seaward reef faces; usually close to the substrate in shallow to mid-depth tropical marine waters.

Bait notes

Takes small live or dead marine baits such as shrimp, crabs, squid strips, and small worms. Tiny soft plastics, shrimp imitations, and small jig heads can also draw strikes.

Behavior

Diurnal and constantly active, picking small benthic invertebrates from sand, rubble, and coral heads. Like other Halichoeres wrasses it often darts, pauses, and resumes foraging, and can bury in sand when threatened or at night.

Caution

Handle carefully around reef structure to avoid cuts; some wrasses are poor table fare and this species is best treated as an angling fish unless local advice confirms edibility. Check local regulations before keeping any reef fish.

Fishing notes

Use light tackle and small hooks; present baits close to reef edges, sand pockets, and rubble. Slow, short hops and steady drifts work better than aggressive retrieves, and caution is needed around snaggy coral.