Arc-eye Hawkfish

Paracirrhites arcatus

A small Indo-Pacific coral-reef hawkfish that sits on exposed perches and darts at passing prey. It is not a target sport fish, but it is a familiar reef species in shallow lagoon and fore-reef habitats.

Saltwater

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

Identification points

Orange to reddish body with a dark arc or eye-like mark near the rear of the dorsal area
Large hawkfish head and mouth with a robust perch-sitting posture
Mottled reef camouflage pattern and barred fins, lacking the elongated body of many reef basses

Habitat

Shallow tropical coral reefs, especially branching or table corals and other elevated hard-substrate perches in lagoons and outer reef slopes; usually in clear, warm saltwater around reefs.

Bait notes

Rarely targeted by anglers. If caught for reef-collection or by chance on very small hooks, it may take tiny pieces of shrimp, squid, or marine flesh baits; small micro-jigs or reef flies can also provoke strikes.

Behavior

An ambush predator that rests motionless on coral heads or rock ledges, then makes short lunges to grab small crustaceans and other tiny reef animals. Often solitary and territorial around its chosen perch.

Caution

Handle carefully; like many reef fish it has sharp spiny fins. Do not consume or target it as a food fish without local knowledge, and avoid reef habitats that are protected or restricted.

Fishing notes

Not a practical game species. Where collection is allowed, use extremely light tackle and fish around coral heads, but avoid reef damage and stress to the fish. Most encounters are incidental while reef fishing.