Greetings!

[chocolatefiend14]

I need some help with a BIG fish ID!!!

We just got back from Cozumel and had a great week of diving. We spent almost the whole week underwater. On one of our dives, I saw a very large fish that of course no one else saw hiding beneath a ledge. I have not identified it yet and neither has anyone else. I'm hoping someone can help me out. We were in about 60 ft. of water and this fish had very large canine teeth protruding outside of its mouth. It's head seemed to be about as large as mine. I got about 3 good looks before I decided maybe I shouldn't get too close (I am a newer diver)...

I wasn't scared by the 6 ft. nurse shark, I wasn't scared by the 6 ft. barracuda staring at me, but staring eye to eye with the large fangs on this large fish still sticks in my mind. Our dive master did not see it as he had the hand of a scared diver and when I motioned him to come look under the ledge to see a large fish with big teeth he was smart enough not to drag the nervous diver over to take a peek.

Anyone have any suggestions?

He thought it might me a snapper, maybe a cubera, or a grouper, but every picture I've seen of a snapper looks small and the teeth all seem to fit inside the mouth. These teeth definetely did not fit in the mouth at all.

I'm very glad he did not feel threatened! I like my head attached to my neck! :11:

Thanks in advance for any input you may have!!

Chocolatefiend14@yahoo.com

 

[Azotomix]

Benvenuto a bordo! :sharks:
Unfortunately I do not have a clue idea!!
Sure someone will have a picture...

 

[R_Deluca]

I have no idea about the fish!

But welcome to SB!

 

[PhotoTJ]

Aloha! You'll like it here, this is the most informative place to go for SCUBA on the internet. Whether you want info, humor, or spirited debate, (or sometimes all three at once!), this is the place!

Oh, and when you fill out your profile, flex those humor muscles!

TJ

 

[DennisW]

Could have been a Hogfish. This a very tasty fish, better than Snapper, better than Grouper. They have very long teeth. They are called Hogfish because they root in the sand off the reef for the little animals they find in the sand. You can't catch them on a hook. Mostly only spearfishermen/women get these fish.

Here is a link to a picture: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/photoout.asp?id=1225

 

[DandyDon]

Howdy!

Welcome to SB!! :happywave Put us in your computer's favorites and check in often. This is a great place to learn, compare, argue Look around our various forums - everything from New-To-Scuba to Instructors-Only to Dive Medicine.

don

BTW - Did you set up your Profile? Some ideas for your Profle might be taken from looking at mine. Click on my Username to the upper left, then click on my Profile, and see what I've done. For your's, click the [CP] in the upper left of the screen, then click [Edit Profile]. If you need any more help, PM me direct.

 

[chocolatefiend14]

I'm now thinking maybe after my exhaustive search that a grouper may have had a one night stand with a deep water species a few years back (that was the "good" advice my fish biologist uncle and I came up with (ha ha ha)

I like the mutant diver mauler! thanks!

Hello ChocolateFiend14,

welcome to the board.

Upon reading the description of your encounter I guess that it's a Mutant Diver Mauler

 

[headhunter]

Welcome to ScubaBoard!

I'm curious about this fish with the big teeth. Maybe you'll find a picture of one somewhere. Maybe even in the photo section of this site!

Christian

 

[Innsmouth]

I don't know all the facts but my guess would be you saw the buisness end of a big moray eel, possibly a green. Did you see the whole body or just the face?

 

[GrierHPharmD]

Good guess! I was wracking my brain over this id.

Here's a link to several moray photos, but I couldn't find one of an eel doing its threat display, where it expands its head and shows an extremely impressive collection of pointy teeth. They tend to hide in holes in the reef, and when you swim by a little too close, they rush out and open their mouths. The first time I experienced this I almost had a "squid reaction" (kick away and leave a cloud in the water!)

Anyway, after you've seen them a time or two, you get used to giving them their space, and a sighting is just one more treat that you look forward to when you dive the reef.

Congratulations on what sounds like some wonderful diving, and welcome to the board,
Grier



http://www.junglewalk.com/photos/Eel-pictures.asp