Scientific name
Cephalopholis fulva (Linné, 1758)
Also called coné watalibi, rouge, tanche (Guadeloupe), watalibi (Martinique)
Morphology
The cone ouatalibi is a tiny Caribbean grouper. It has a robust, oval-shaped body and a wide mouth with thick lips that characterize groupers. Its broad caudal fin is a good match for its wide, slow swim. Its coloring is red with blue spots on the body, but can vary according to its mood (stress, spawning).
It has similar traits to the salmon loche ( Plectropomus leopardu ) on a smaller scale.
Coné ouatalibi fishing grounds
This small grouper is commonly found in the clear waters of Caribbean coral reefs at depths of between 5 and 25 meters. It hunts close to the bottom and often hides near a hole, especially during the day. It is very common in Guadeloupe and Martinique, as well as from French Guiana to Florida, and further offshore in Bermuda.
Fishing techniques
Watalibi in Martinique or tench in Guadeloupe, the technique is the same. A wide range of bottom fishing techniques are available for watalibi.
Palangrotte, of course, with 2 1/0 hooks and 0.40 mm sinkers, with a lead weight of 40 to 80 grams. Light jigging is also a safe bet. With a piece of tuna meat on the jig hook, it's even better. Tuna can also be fished with a bait lure called a tenya. Go for light jigs and tenya between 20 and 50 grams. As the wind is often strong in the Atlantic, it may be necessary to go up to 60 or 80 grams with a strong wind combined with a strong current. Another solution is to cast the jig upstream to get a feel for the bottom over a short period.
Reproduction
The cone ouatalibi reaches sexual maturity at 16 cm. This hermaphroditic grouper changes from female to male at around 20 cm in length. They spawn from December to May, depending on the region. One male spawns with several females at dusk. The female lays around 200,000 eggs.
Size and weight
- Legal minimum catch size: none
- Size at sexual maturity: 16 cm
- Average size: 25 cm
- Maximum height: 35 cm (6 kg, 19 years old)
- World record: 0.56 kg - 30.48 cm (Key West, Florida, USA, 01/02/2003)
Good to know
This little fish is very popular in the Caribbean and is often found in markets, along with other rock fish.
