Napolean or Maori Wrasse caught in Aitutaki, Cook Islands

Napoleon Wrasse

Cheilinus undulatus

Also called Humphead Wrasse or Maori Wrasse, these impressive fish are one of the most difficult to catch on rod and reel.  I am far from an expert in catching them but there are few if any people in the world who are.  I have hooked about a dozen of them and only landed the one above.  Found on reefs in the Indo-Pacific, these fish are widespread but rarely found in any concentration.  They are predatory fish and will suck in topwater lures, sinking lures, soft plastics, and a wide variety of other lures if you can locate the fish in the first place.  They look soft but are actually extremely strong and will power into the rocks where they live as soon as they are hooked.  Heavy leader and line are generally required to have a hope of landing one.  Even the small ones are hard to keep out of the rocks.  They reach weights of several hundred pounds but I have never heard of one over 100lbs landed on rod and reel.  Unfortunately they are highly sought after as a food fish in Asia and their numbers are threatened.  The one pictured above was released and I highly encourage anyone who catches one to do the same.

Pound for Pound Fight Rating - 10 out of 10
This is the toughest fish to catch on rod and reel that I know of.  They pull incredibly hard and live in very rocky areas where they have many opportunities to break you off.  I have only landed one out of 12 hooked.

Napoleon Wrasse Culinary Rating - Unknown

No idea how they taste.  Please throw them back.

Napoleon Wrasse caught in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Juvenile Napoleon Wrasse caught in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Napoleon Wrasse caught in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

This greedy wrasse ate two plastics!