Yuriban Snapperfish

The Yuriban Snapperfish is a species of Snapper which is known to school around the reefs that dot the area of the island of Yuriba. Numerous, they are a popular game fish as well as food source for the saltwater predators and occasionally the more creative harvest bears and artisan wolves.

Description

The Yuriban Snapper is known for having a red scale tone, and what looks visually like an 'overbite' that seems a pair of fangs. About 25-30 cm long at maturity and extremely fast swimmers. They move in large red schools throughout the reefs in almost spear-like movements.

Behavior and Habitat

Yuriban Snappers are known for being rather predatory, and eat many of the fish and invertebrates that populate the reefs about the island. They are known to congregate over some of the shipwrecks that dot the island, making for excellent fishing spots and are a common target for the mast cat, the cats working in pairs and trios to scatter a school of snapper and catch stragglers. They prefer shallower areas, and can be caught off the docks if one is particularly patient and good with a reel and bait for a challenge, or a well cast net most often.

When laying eggs, they will secret them away at the bottom of the shipwrecks, the base of docks, and within the saltier parts of the Yuriban Mangroves among the roots, then leave the eggs to fend for themselves. The fry will stay in schools within the mangroves or shallow reeds, avoiding the adult fish as the larger fish will happily eat the small ones.

Uses

The flesh is firm and sweet, and goes well with most fruits made on the island, particularly when baked. They are often left with the skin on and scales removed, gutted and fried whole or with the head removed from larger specimens. The saltwater predators use them as a primary food source, and even some of the animals of the island have been known to stake out hunting spots that are not too deep. The fish is particularly good when smoked, and has the ability to take on whatever the background flavors of the items it is prepared with and seasoned, which has lead to it being dubbed on one occasion as the tofu of sea fish.