Puerto Rico Dive Sites

Yellowtail snapper

Ocyurus chrysurus · Also called: Colirrubia, rabirrubia

Protection: DRNA sets a minimum size; undersized fish must go back to the sea.[1]

Facts

  • A yellow stripe runs from the mouth to the forked yellow tail, widening as it goes. Olive-gray to bluish back with small yellow spots.[2]
  • Adults school over sand near offshore reefs. Young ones live in mangroves, seagrass and back reefs.[2]

Where it's been reported (3)

From the sources on each dive site's page. Sightings are never guaranteed.

  • Palomino Reef · Fajardo & La Cordillera“sergeant majors, yellowtail snappers, small reef fish, anemones — 'Palomino Reef' entry, re-read 2026-10-17” (Aqua Adventure)
  • Escambrón · San Juan & North Coast“yellowtail snapper” (Scuba Dogs)
  • Barracuda City · West Coast“schoolmaster and yellowtail snappers” (ecotreasures (Intrepid Mesh LLC))

Sources

  1. Reglamento de Pesca de Puerto Rico - 2010 (Reglamento Núm. 7949), Art. 4, 8, 14 and 22 · Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales (DRNA) (accessed 2026-10-22)
  2. Yellowtail Snapper · NOAA Fisheries (accessed 2026-10-22)

Last checked 2026-10-22