Along rocky coasts and deeper shelf slopes, red-colored species show up across a surprising variety of habitats, from kelp beds to seamounts. If you spend time around piers or on a research vessel, you’ll notice how similar hues hide very different fish adapted to shallow and deep water.
There are 31 red fish, ranging from Alfonsino to Yelloweye Rockfish. The list is presented in table form with columns Scientific name,Habitat,Max size (cm), which you’ll find below.
How can I tell these red fish apart in the field?
Look beyond color: note body shape, fin placement, scale texture and typical depth or habitat, and compare sizes to the Max size (cm) given; local field guides and photos tied to the Scientific name are also helpful for confirming species.
Should I be concerned about conservation or fishing rules for these species?
Some red fish, like certain rockfish, face population pressures and may be protected or subject to catch limits; check regional fishery regulations and conservation listings (e.g., national agencies or IUCN) for species-specific guidance.
Red Fish
| Common name | Scientific name | Habitat | Max size (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Snapper | Lutjanus campechanus | marine/reef and continental shelf, 10-200 m | 100 |
| Vermilion Snapper | Rhomboplites aurorubens | marine/reef and continental shelf, 20-200 m | 58 |
| Scarlet Snapper (Crimson Snapper) | Lutjanus erythropterus | marine/reef, shallow to 150 m | 80 |
| Red Drum (Redfish) | Sciaenops ocellatus | estuary/coastal, shallow bays and inlets 0-30 m | 140 |
| Red Mullet (Strawberry Mullet) | Mullus surmuletus | marine/nearshore/reef, 5-120 m | 40 |
| Alfonsino | Beryx splendens | marine/deep slope and seamounts, 200-1,200 m | 61 |
| Golden Redfish / Ocean Perch | Sebastes norvegicus | marine/deep shelf and slope, 100-400 m | 70 |
| Vermilion Rockfish | Sebastes miniatus | marine/rocky reefs, 15-300 m | 60 |
| Yelloweye Rockfish | Sebastes ruberrimus | marine/rocky reefs, 20-500 m | 100 |
| Red Lionfish | Pterois volitans | marine/reef, shallow to 100 m | 38 |
| Flame Angelfish | Centropyge loricula | marine/reef, shallow reef flats and slopes 1-50 m | 10 |
| Red Scorpionfish | Scorpaena scrofa | marine/rocky/subtidal, 1-200 m | 60 |
| Japanese Red Seabream (Madai) | Pagrus major | marine/reef and coastal, 0-200 m | 100 |
| Red Porgy | Pagrus pagrus | marine/reef and continental shelf, 10-200 m | 76 |
| Two-spot Red Snapper | Lutjanus bohar | marine/reef, shallow to 100 m | 100 |
| Red Emperor Snapper | Lutjanus sebae | marine/reef, shallow lagoons and reefs 10-200 m | 100 |
| Red Gurnard | Aspitrigla cuculus | marine/soft bottom and shelf, 10-200 m | 50 |
| Red Hind | Epinephelus guttatus | marine/reef, shallow to 100 m | 80 |
| Coral Grouper (Coral Hind) | Cephalopholis miniata | marine/reef, 1-50 m | 60 |
| Tomato Clownfish | Amphiprion frenatus | marine/reef/anemone-associated, 1-20 m | 11 |
| Flame Hawkfish | Neocirrhites armatus | marine/reef, shallow reef crests 1-30 m | 10 |
| Longjaw Squirrelfish | Holocentrus rufus | marine/reef and rocky, shallow to 70 m | 35 |
| Lyretail Anthias | Pseudanthias squamipinnis | marine/reef, 3-50 m | 15 |
| Saber Squirrelfish | Sargocentron spiniferum | marine/reef, 3-100 m | 45 |
| Redtail Catfish | Phractocephalus hemioliopterus | freshwater/large rivers and floodplains, South America | 120 |
| Redtail Surfperch | Amphistichus rhodoterus | marine/coastal surf zone and bays, intertidal to 30 m | 45 |
| Red Blackfish / Red Moki | Cheilodactylus spectabilis | marine/rocky reefs, shallow to 150 m | 75 |
| Red Rockfish (common redfish) | Sebastes spp. (various red-colored species) | marine/rocky reefs and slopes, 20-600 m | 80 |
| Red Coral Goby | Gobiodon rubrispinus | marine/reef, coral branches shallow 1-20 m | 4 |
| Red Humphead Wrasse (juvenile red not typical) excluded | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Redmouth Trout (Javelin Grunt) excluded | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Images and Descriptions
Red Snapper
Deep-bodied, pink-red snapper with pointed snout and forked tail found on Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic reefs and wrecks. Popular edible table fish with strong fisheries; look for uniform reddish color and large eyes. Aquaculture/fishery management important.
Vermilion Snapper
Slender, bright red snapper with small mouth and silvery stripes on sides, found western Atlantic continental shelf and reefs. Smaller than red snapper and sought by anglers; edible and common in markets. Monitor harvest levels locally.
Scarlet Snapper (Crimson Snapper)
Vivid red snapper with rounded profile and slightly notched tail on Indo-Pacific reefs. Often called scarlet or crimson snapper; prized for food and important for reef fisheries. Identify by bright uniform red body and reef habitat.
Red Drum (Redfish)
Coppery-red, elongated drum with single large black spot near tail, common in western Atlantic estuaries and coastal waters. Highly prized sport and table fish; catch limits and conservation measures exist in many regions.
Red Mullet (Strawberry Mullet)
Slender, reddish-pink goatfish with chin barbels and two long dorsal fins found in Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic. Popular edible fish with delicate flesh; identify by red body, lateral stripes and barbels used to probe sand.
Alfonsino
Bright red, deep-bodied deepwater fish with large eyes on continental slopes and seamounts worldwide. Caught commercially by deepwater fisheries; edible but slow-growing, making stocks vulnerable to overfishing.
Golden Redfish / Ocean Perch
Thick-bodied, orange-red rockfish of North Atlantic rocky bottoms. Long-lived and commercially important; subject to stock assessments and conservation measures. Identify by sturdy body, spiny dorsal fin and reddish-orange coloring.
Vermilion Rockfish
Bright vermilion-red rockfish off North American Pacific coast, preferring rocky reefs. Commonly angler-caught and good eating; slow-growing so fisheries regulated. Look for deep body, large eyes and spiny dorsal fin.
Yelloweye Rockfish
Orange-red rockfish with large eyes and strong spines in northeast Pacific waters. Long-lived and often conservation concern due to slow growth and heavy fishing pressure; avoid in unsustainable fisheries.
Red Lionfish
Striped red-and-white venomous lionfish with showy pectoral fins and long venomous spines, native to Indo-Pacific and invasive in Atlantic/Caribbean. Not typically sold in aquaria lightly; edible if prepared carefully. Major conservation/management issue where invasive.
Flame Angelfish
Small, vivid orange-red reef angelfish with vertical black markings found across central Pacific reefs. Popular aquarium fish for its color but requires reef care; not a food species. Identify by compact shape and bold coloration.
Red Scorpionfish
Rough, red-brown scorpionfish with mottled skin and venomous spines common in eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean rocky bottoms. Camouflaged ambush predator; not aquarium-suitable and potentially hazardous to anglers and divers. Edible in some local cuisines.
Japanese Red Seabream (Madai)
Oval, pink-red porgy with a steep head and strong jaws, iconic in Japanese fisheries and cuisine. Found in northwest Pacific coastal waters; valued table fish and culturally significant. Identify by rosy body and robust profile.
Red Porgy
Reddish porgy with compressed body and spiny dorsal fin across western Atlantic and Mediterranean. Popular food fish caught with hook-and-line and trawl; look for red hue and forked tail over rocky or sandy bottoms.
Two-spot Red Snapper
Large, deep-bodied reddish snapper with two dark spots on the dorsal area, found on Indo-Pacific reefs. Edible and important reef fish; juveniles sometimes inhabit lagoons. Identify by deep red color and distinctive spots.
Red Emperor Snapper
Striking red snapper with pale flank stripe and robust body in Indo-Pacific reefs. Highly prized table fish and reef predator; identify by deep red color and stout head profile.
Red Gurnard
Reddish armored gurnard with large pectoral fins and bony head, found in NE Atlantic and Mediterranean. Uses pectoral fins to “walk” on seabed; edible and distinctive by bright red coloration and wing-like fins.
Red Hind
Reddish-brown grouper with small dark spots and ocellus near tail in Caribbean reefs. Popular sport and food fish with local size/season protections; identify by mottled red coloration and heavy body.
Coral Grouper (Coral Hind)
Bright red-orange grouper with numerous blue spots on body and fins across Indo-Pacific coral reefs. Attractive but large and predatory; eaten in some regions and popular in dive sites. Aquarium-only for large specialist systems.
Tomato Clownfish
Small, deep red to orange clownfish with a single white head bar, found in western Pacific reefs living with sea anemones. Very popular aquarium species; hardy but requires host anemone or surrogate structure.
Flame Hawkfish
Vivid flame-red hawkfish perched on corals and rubble in central Pacific reefs. Small, hardy aquarium choice prized for color and personality; carnivorous, eats small invertebrates and shrimp in tanks.
Longjaw Squirrelfish
Bright red, large-eyed squirrelfish of western Atlantic reefs with long snout and spiny dorsal fin. Nocturnal and often seen sheltering in crevices during day; aquarium-suitable for larger marine tanks and also bycatch in fisheries.
Lyretail Anthias
Vivid orange-red (males often bright reddish) small schooling reef fish on Indo-Pacific reefs. Popular reef aquarium species for color and social displays; needs groups and planktonic feeding, not for beginners.
Saber Squirrelfish
Large, bright red squirrelfish with strong spines and big eyes found in Indo-Pacific reefs. Nocturnal predator sheltering in caves; occasionally kept in large aquaria but not ideal for reef tanks with small fishes.
Redtail Catfish
Large Amazonian catfish with a distinctive red tail fin and dark body; popular in very large aquaria and ponds but grows huge. Not edible in many regions; common in ornamental trade but unsuitable for small tanks.
Redtail Surfperch
Silvery fish with reddish fins and tail found in northeast Pacific surf and nearshore habitats. Popular surf fish for anglers and edible locally; identify by pinkish-red tail and deep-bodied profile.
Red Blackfish / Red Moki
Reddish, laterally compressed reef fish of southern Australia and New Zealand with strong pectoral fins. Sought in recreational fisheries; recognize by red tones, thick lips and territorial reef behavior.
Red Rockfish (common redfish)
Group entry for multiple reddish rockfish species with adult orange-red bodies across temperate oceans. Many are long-lived and of conservation concern; identify by stout bodies, spiny fins and red-orange coloration.
Red Coral Goby
Tiny, bright red goby living among Acropora coral branches in Indo-Pacific shallow reefs. Aquarium-suitable for dedicated coral tanks; small, territorial and reef-associated. Identify by vivid red body and close coral association.
Red Humphead Wrasse (juvenile red not typical) excluded
N/A
Redmouth Trout (Javelin Grunt) excluded
N/A
