Laced Moray

Gymnothorax favagineus

The laced moray (Gymnothorax favagineus) is a large Indo-Pacific reef moray with a striking honeycomb pattern. It hides in coral heads and crevices by day and hunts at night for fish and crustaceans.

Saltwater

Laced Moray reference image — Diego Delso, cc-by-sa, via Wikimedia Commons. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Identification points

Long eel-like body with a very large head and mouth
Cream to yellow body covered in dark reticulated 'lace' or honeycomb markings
Tall dorsal fin running nearly the full body length

Habitat

Warm tropical coral reefs, outer reef slopes, lagoons, and rocky reef crevices; typically shelters deep in holes and under ledges during daylight.

Bait notes

Fresh strips of fish, squid, or shrimp work best; live baits fished tight to reef cover can draw strikes. It is not a common target species and is more often caught incidentally.

Behavior

Nocturnal ambush predator that feeds on fish, crabs, shrimp, and cephalopods. It stays concealed in reef structure and can strike quickly when food passes close.

Caution

Bites can be severe; handle with extreme caution and never hand-line near the mouth. Large morays may carry ciguatera risk in some tropical areas, so consumption is often avoided.

Fishing notes

Fish at night or at dawn/dusk around holes and reef edges with stout tackle and heavy abrasion-resistant leader. Keep baits close to structure but expect hard runs into cover.