Spanish Hogfish
Bodianus rufus
Also called Spanish hog.
How to tell it
Purple-blue upper front half, yellow below and behind; pointed snout; a reef wrasse, not the hogfish.
Often mistaken for
One fish that gets called Spanish hogfish, and what gives it away.
- Hogfish: The big-snouted food fish, no purple saddle. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic) | 2–8" slot (Spanish hogfish) | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | 2–8" slot (Spanish hogfish) | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
On the table
Edible, small; not the eating hogfish.
In the app
Point the camera at a Spanish hogfish and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about Spanish hogfish
What is the size limit for Spanish hogfish?
It depends on the state. Florida (Atlantic): 2–8" slot (Spanish hogfish); Florida (Gulf): 2–8" slot (Spanish hogfish).
How many Spanish hogfish can you keep?
Florida (Atlantic): 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate; Florida (Gulf): 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate.
How do you tell Spanish hogfish from hogfish?
Spanish Hogfish: Purple-blue upper front half, yellow below and behind; pointed snout; a reef wrasse, not the hogfish. Hogfish: the big-snouted food fish, no purple saddle.