Beaked Chub, Kyphosus sectatrix
Beaked Chub, Kyphosus sectatrix. Fish caught Fish caught off the Channel 5 Bridge (MM 71.4), Florida Keys, Florida, January 2014. Length: 11.1 cm (4.4 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Ryan Crutchfield, Tampa, Florida.
Beaked Chub, Kyphosus sectatrix. Fish caught from coastal waters off Sugarloaf, Florida, August 2014. Length: 25 cm (10 inches). Catch and photograph courtesy of Dean Kimberly, Atlanta, Georgia.
Beaked Chub, Kyphosus sectatrix. Fish caught from coastal waters off Sugarloaf, Florida, August 2014. Length: 13 cm (5.1 inches). Catch, photograph, and identification courtesy of Josh Leisen (joshadventures.com), Gaylord, Michigan.
Beaked Chub, Kyphosus sectatrix. Fish caught off the Grand Mayan Pier, Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, March 2012. Length: 33 cm (13 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of George Brinkman, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Beaked Chub, Kyphosus sectatrix. Fish caught from coastal waters off Big PIne Key, Florida, April 2019. Length: 33 cm (13 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Luke Ovgard, Klamath Falls, Oregon.
The Beaked Chub, Kyphosus sectatrix, is a member of the Sea Chub or Kyphosidae Family, that is also known as the Bermuda Chub and in Mexico as chopa blanca. Globally, there are eighteen species in the genus Kyphosus, of which six are found in Mexican waters, one in the Atlantic, one in the Pacific and three in both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans.
The Beaked Chub has a moderately deep body with a depth that is 43% to 47% of standard length. They are dull gray with longitudinal stripes on their body and two dull yellow horizontal bands on their head that run from the snout to the gill covers with the lower band running under the eye. Fish found in shallow waters are darker than those found in deeper water. Juveniles have pale spots on their head, body, and fins, which are similar in size to the eyes. Their head is short with a distinct bump in front and above the eyes and a small horizontal mouth very close to the tip of the snout. They have regular rows of close-set teeth that are in a peculiar hockey-stick shape. Their anal fin has 3 spines and 10 or 11 rays; their dorsal fin is continuous with 11 spines and 11 to 13 rays; and, their pectoral fins are short. They have 16 to 19 gill rakers. Their body is covered with small scales.
The Beaked Chub is found in shallow coastal waters over grasses, sand or rocky bottoms adjacent to coral reefs at depths up to 12 m (40 feet). They reach a maximum of 76 cm (2 feet 6 inches) in length , but are common around 30 cm (15 inches), and 13.2 lbs (6.0 kg) in weight. As of January 1, 2023, the International Game Fish Association world record stood at 6.01 kg (13 lbs 4 oz) with the fish caught in coastal waters off Fort Pierce, Florida in March 1997. They feed on benthic algae and small invertebrates. They are a gregarious species known to follow boats. The Beaked Chub is poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction.
The Beaked Chub is a resident of all Mexican waters of the Atlantic Ocean including the Gulf of Mexico and the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in the Caribbean. They have recently been found in Greek waters that has generated new interest from the scientific community
The Beaked Chub can be easily confused with the only other Chub found in the Atlantic, the Lowfin Chub, Kyphosus vaigiensis (anal fin with 3 spines and 12 or 13 rays; dorsal fin with 11 spines and 13 to 15 rays; convex head profile in front of and above eyes).
From a conservation perspective the Beaked Chubs is currently considered as Data Deficient. They are considered to be an excellent food fish; they are caught by commercial fishermen with nets and marketed fresh. On light tackle with small hooks they can be a quality game fish. Care in cleaning is essential to avoid contamination with their foul smelling guts. They are a small component of the aquarium trade.