Blue AngelfishorQueen Angelfish
Two fish anglers mix up. Here is what separates them, and what each one’s rules are in your state.
How to tell them apart
Blue Angelfish
Blue-gray body with yellow fin edges and a yellow tail border; no crown spot on the nape.
Blue angelfish, next to queen angelfish: no crown, yellow only on the tail edges.
Queen Angelfish
Electric blue and yellow with a dark 'crown' spot ringed in blue on the nape; all-yellow tail.
Queen angelfish, next to blue angelfish: crown spot, solid yellow tail.
Side by side
| Blue Angelfish | Queen Angelfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Holacanthus bermudensis | Holacanthus ciliaris |
| Also called | Blue angel | Queen angel |
| Waters | Nearshore | Nearshore |
| Heaviest state record | — | — |
| On the table | Not a food fish — an aquarium species. | Not a food fish — an aquarium species. |
| Rules of its own in | 2 states | 2 states |
Rules for
Every state, both fish
Where either fish has a rule, the two are regulated the same. The name still goes in the log and on the tally.
| State | Blue Angelfish: size · bag · season | Queen Angelfish: size · bag · season |
|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic) | 1¾–8" slot (Holacanthus angelfish)5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregateYear-roundOpenFWC 2026 · likely · checked | 1¾–8" slot (Holacanthus angelfish)5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregateYear-roundOpenFWC 2026 · likely · checked |
| Florida (Gulf) | 1¾–8" slot (Holacanthus angelfish)5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregateYear-roundOpenFWC 2026 · likely · checked | 1¾–8" slot (Holacanthus angelfish)5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregateYear-roundOpenFWC 2026 · likely · checked |
In the app
Point the camera at the fish and Chum names it before you take the picture, blue angelfish or queen angelfish, with the right rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask
How do you tell blue angelfish from queen angelfish?
Blue Angelfish: Blue-gray body with yellow fin edges and a yellow tail border; no crown spot on the nape. Queen Angelfish: Electric blue and yellow with a dark 'crown' spot ringed in blue on the nape; all-yellow tail. Queen angelfish, next to blue angelfish: crown spot, solid yellow tail. Blue angelfish, next to queen angelfish: no crown, yellow only on the tail edges.
Which is better to eat, blue angelfish or queen angelfish?
Blue Angelfish: Not a food fish — an aquarium species. Queen Angelfish: Not a food fish — an aquarium species.
Do blue angelfish and queen angelfish have the same limits?
Yes, in every state that regulates either one. The table on this page lists each rule with its source and check date.