Scissortail Chromis

Azurina atrilobata

Scissortail Chromis is a small reef-associated damselfish with a deeply forked tail and bright blue body accented by a dark tail patch. It is common around tropical eastern Pacific reefs and drop-offs, but it is not a typical sport fish and is rarely targeted by anglers.

Saltwater

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

Identification points

Deeply forked scissor-like tail with a dark/black tip or lobes
Slender bright blue body with a darker patch near the tail base
Small schooling chromis shape with a relatively narrow head and compressed body

Habitat

Clear tropical rocky reefs, coral patches, and shallow to mid-depth reef slopes and drop-offs in the eastern Pacific, often schooling above structure.

Bait notes

Rarely fished intentionally; if caught, small pieces of shrimp, fish, or squid and tiny sabiki-style flies, micro-jigs, or small bits of soft plastic may take it.

Behavior

Forms loose to dense schools in the water column above reefs and feeds on plankton carried by current. It is wary, fast-moving, and spends much of the day hovering off structure.

Caution

Reef fish handling can be delicate; spines are mild but avoid netting against coral. Not a common food fish, and small reef species from the tropical eastern Pacific are generally not eaten due to minimal meat and local reef-fish consumption concerns.

Fishing notes

Best encountered incidentally while jigging or fishing small bait rigs near reef edges and current lines. Use very light tackle and small hooks if targeting for aquarium or observation purposes; most anglers release it.