Oblique-banded Sweetlips

Plectorhinchus lineatus

Oblique-banded Sweetlips is a reef-dwelling grunter of Indo-Pacific waters, often seen over coral slopes and lagoons. Juveniles are boldly striped and the species feeds mainly on small benthic invertebrates and crustaceans.

Saltwater

Oblique-banded Sweetlips reference image — Rickard Zerpe, cc-by, via Wikimedia Commons. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Identification points

Cream to silvery body with several broad dark oblique bands slanting down and back along the flanks
Thick, fleshy sweetlips mouth with a rounded head profile
Juveniles are especially striped and often more contrasting than adults

Habitat

Coral reefs, reef flats, sheltered lagoons, and adjacent sandy or rubble bottoms from shallow inshore water to deeper reef slopes; juveniles often shelter in protected lagoon and mangrove-edge habitats.

Bait notes

Best on small live or fresh baits such as shrimp, crabs, squid strips, clam, cut fish, and worms; small bottom jigs and soft plastics that mimic crustaceans can work. It is not a major sportfish everywhere and is often incidental.

Behavior

Usually solitary or in small groups by day, foraging near the bottom for crabs, shrimp, worms, and other invertebrates. Like other sweetlips, juveniles and adults can be wary and more active at dusk and night.

Caution

Spiny dorsal rays can prick; handle carefully. In some tropical reef areas, larger individuals may pose ciguatera risk, so local consumption advisories matter.

Fishing notes

Fish light to medium tackle near reef edges, rubble, and drop-offs with a bottom rig or slowly worked lure close to structure. Let the bait rest on bottom; gentle, natural presentations outfish fast retrieves.