Tripletail Maori Wrasse
Cheilinus trilobatus
Tripletail Maori Wrasse (Cheilinus trilobatus) is a tropical Indo-Pacific reef wrasse found on shallow coral and rubble habitats. It is mostly an invertebrate feeder and is not a common angling target; take care with site-specific reef protections.
Identification points
- Three rounded tail lobes give the species its common-name look, with a notably trilobed caudal fin.
- Adults show a stout wrasse body with a blunt head and thick lips.
- Color is variable but usually mottled brownish, greenish, or reddish with pale spotting/markings on the body and fins.
Habitat
Shallow coral reefs, reef flats, lagoons, and rubble slopes in tropical Indo-Pacific waters, often near coral heads and seagrass edges.
Bait notes
Best taken incidentally on small natural baits such as shrimp, squid strips, or small pieces of crab on light tackle. Small reef jigs or tiny soft plastics worked slowly near bottom may draw strikes.
Behavior
Diurnal and generally wary; forages along the bottom for crustaceans, mollusks, and other benthic invertebrates. Larger individuals can be solitary or loosely associated with reef structure.
Caution
Reef fish consumption can carry ciguatera risk in some tropical areas; do not eat large reef specimens from ciguatera-prone regions. Also respect local marine reserve and reef harvest rules.
Fishing notes
Fish very lightly around coral edges and rubble with small hooks and minimal weight. Use stealth and short casts; avoid dragging gear across live coral. If encountered while reef fishing, handle quickly and release unless local regulations allow harvest.