Labrus mixtus
h5>Distinguishing features
The cuckoo wrasse is one of the most distinctively coloured of the cold water wrasse species with the male in particular taking on tropical hues. The male has bright blue to purple markings on the head and body over a background which can vary from yellow to orange and green. The females are more subdued and tend to an overall reddish orange with a black line along the dorsal towards the tail broken up by lighter spots; the fins may also have a blue border. Immature males have a similar colouring to the female but without the dorsal markings. The cuckoo wrasse is streamlined with a pointed head and protruding mouth which contains canine teeth. There are 16-18 spines in anterior section of the dorsal fin and 11-14 in the posterior section.
Size
Cuckoo Wrasse are generally a small fish but can reach weights of over 1 kg.
British Record Fish List
UK Shore Record: 1lb 12oz 9dms / 0.809kgs
UK Boat Record: 2lb 7oz 12dms / 1.126kgs
European Line Class Record for this species
Habitat
The cuckoo wrasse can be found in depths from 2 to 200 metres but is most frequent from 20 to 80 metres. It prefers mixed ground and rocky areas.
Food
Feeds mostly on small crustaceans and molluscs.
Bait
Although worms and peeler crab will take cuckoo wrasse a strip of mackerel is the mostly likely bait to secure one of this species.
