Lowfin Chub, Kyphosus vaigiensis

Lowfin Chub, Kyphosus vaigiensis. Fish caught off the Anglin’s Pier, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida, February 2016. Length: 14 cm (5.5 inches). Catch, photograph, and identification courtesy of Josh Leisen (joshadventures.com), Gaylord, Michigan.

Lowfin Chub, Kyphosus vaigiensis. Fish caught from coastal waters off Mazatlán, Sinaloa, October 2021. Length: 20 cm (7.9 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Bart, The Netherlands  (worldangler.eu).

Lowfin Chub, Kyphosus vaigiensis. Fish caught from coastal Hawaiian waters, October 2017. Length: 22 cm (8.7 inches). Catch and photograph courtesy of George Brinkman, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

Lowfin Chub, Kyphosus vaigiensis. Fish caught off the Anglin’s Pier, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida, February 2016. Length: 23 cm (9.0 inches). Catch, photograph, and identification courtesy of George Brinkman, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

Lowfin Chub, Kyphosus vaigiensis. Fish caught from shore at Los Barriles, Baja California Sur, January 2017. Length: 30 cm (12 inches). Catch and photograph courtesy of Ian Franck, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada.

Lowfin Chub, Kyphosus vaigiensis. Fish caught from shore at Km 21, Cabo Real, Baja California Sur, January 2008. Length: 35 cm (14 inches).

Lowfin Chub, Kyphosus vaigiensis. Fish caught from coastal waters off Sebastian, Florida, March 2021. Length: 35 cm (14 inches). Catch, photograph, and identification courtesy of Ben Cantrell, Sebastian, Florida.

Lowfin Chub, Kyphosus vaigiensis. Fish caught from coastal waters off Loreto, Baja California Sur, June 1014. Length: 35 cm (14 inches). Catch, photograph, and identification courtesy of Chris Wheaton, Fullerton, California.

Lowfin Chub, Kyphosus vaigiensis. Underwater photograph taken in coastal waters of the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, May 2018. Photograph courtesy of Bob Hillis, Ivins, Utah.

The Lowfin Chub, Kyphosus vaigiensis, is a member of the Sea Chub or Kyphosidae Family, that is also known as the Brassy Chub and is known in Mexico as chopa amarilla when when found in the Atlantic and chopa rayada when found in the Pacific Ocean. Very recently, the Yellow Chub, Kyphosus incisor from the Atlantic and the Blue-Bronze Chub, Kyphosus analogus from the Pacific were deemed to be the same species, thus the common name was changed for both to Lowfin Chub and the species name formally changed to Kyphosus vaigiensis. 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 Pacific Oceans.

The Lowfin Chub has a compressed oval body with a depth that is 38% to 45% of standard length. They are bluish-gray and have 23 to 29 prominent narrow brassy colored stripes between each scale row with the stripes above the lateral line following the curve of the lateral line. They also have 2 gold or brassy stripes, the first extending through the eyes and the second located under the eyes. They have a small pointed head with a relatively long snout and a small horizontal mouth that opens at the front. They have small incisor-like teeth set horizontally in their mouth as well as teeth on the center of the roof of their mouth and on their tongue. Their teeth have rounded tips and an overall hockey stick shape. Their anal fin has 3 spines and 13 or 14 rays that are low and of uniform height; their caudal fin is forked; their dorsal fin is continuous with 10 or 11 spines that fold down into a grove and 13 to 15 rays; their pectoral fins are short; and, their pelvic fins are short and located behind the pectoral fins. They have 29 gill rakers. Their body is covered with small, thick, and rough scales.

In the Atlantic the Lowfin Chub is found in shallow coastal waters over sargassum grass and sandy or rocky bottoms adjacent to coral reefs at depths up to 15 m (50 feet). They reach a maximum of 90 cm (2 feet 11 inches) in length and 3.9 kg (8 lbs 10 oz) in weight. In the Pacific the Lowfin Chub is a schooling fish found over reefs at depths up to 18 m (60 feet). They reach a maximum of 45 cm (18 inches) in length. As of January 1, 2024, the International Game Fish Association world record stood at 2.83 kg (6 lbs 4 oz) with the fish caught in coastal waters off Oahu, Hawaii in November 2013. They are omnivores and feed on benthic algae, plankton, small invertebrates and sargassum Grass. Reproduction is oviparous. The Lowfin 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 Lowfin Chub is a resident of all Mexican waters of both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans and have recently gained renewed scientific interest due their documented presence in Greek waters.

The Lowfin Chub most likely will be confused with the Cortez Chub, Kyphosus elegans (deeper body; body width 48% to 52% of standard length; less prominent stripes) from the Pacific Ocean.

From a conservation perspective the Lowfin Chub is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations. They are considered to be a quality game fish by recreational anglers utilizing light tackle with small hooks. They are considered to be a quality food fish and are caught by commercial fishermen and subsistence fishermen with gill nets, handlines, and spears and marketed fresh. Care in cleaning is essential to avoid contamination with their foul-smelling guts.