Scissor-tailed Fusilier
Caesio caerulaurea
Scissor-tailed Fusilier is a schooling Indo-Pacific reef fish with a slim blue body and yellow back. It feeds on zooplankton over clear outer reefs and drop-offs; it is not a common target species for most anglers.
Identification points
- Bright blue body with a yellow dorsal area
- Deeply forked tail with scissor-like lobes
- Schooling fusilier with a slender, streamlined body and small mouth
Habitat
Clear tropical saltwater around outer coral reefs, reef slopes, and seaward drop-offs, typically schooling above structure in midwater.
Bait notes
Rarely targeted specifically; small shiny jigs, tiny metal lures, or lightly weighted sabiki rigs can attract it, and small baitfish strips may take fish if schools are present.
Behavior
A fast-moving planktivore that forms large schools and rises into the water column to feed, often over reef edges and current-swept zones.
Caution
Ciguatera risk may apply to reef-associated individuals in tropical areas; check local advisories and avoid eating large reef fish from known risk areas.
Fishing notes
Fish light tackle over reef edges and current lines; chum can hold schools near the surface. Use small hooks and expect quick, delicate strikes while the school is active.