Pixy Hawkfish

Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus

Pixy Hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus) is a small Indo-Pacific reef hawkfish that perches on coral and rubble, watching for tiny prey. It is not a meaningful game fish; records are mostly from reef biodiversity surveys, not fisheries.

Saltwater

Pixy Hawkfish reference image — Rickard Zerpe, cc-by, via Wikimedia Commons. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Identification points

Small hawkfish with a perched posture on coral or rubble
Mottled brown to reddish body with pale blotches and banding
Cirri/tufts above the eyes and a stout head with large pectoral fins

Habitat

Coral reefs, reef slopes, and lagoonal areas with branching coral, rubble, and rock; typically perched on exposed branches or ledges in shallow tropical marine waters.

Bait notes

Not normally targeted by anglers. If collected for aquarium purposes or incidentally taken, small live or fresh shrimp pieces and tiny marine flesh baits may attract it; very small micro-jigs or bits of soft plastic are more relevant than standard fishing tackle.

Behavior

A sedentary ambush predator that sits on coral heads and pounces on small crustaceans and tiny fishes. It is territorial for its size and spends much of the day motionless, darting only short distances to feed.

Caution

Reef habitat means sharp coral and spines can cause cuts; avoid handling fish or reaching into coral crevices. As a small reef species, it is not a common food fish and may be protected by local reef collection rules.

Fishing notes

If encountered while reef fishing, use ultra-light tackle and tiny hooks near coral outcrops; however, this species is generally too small and site-faithful to be a practical sport target. Best observed rather than pursued.