bluelined snapper or yellow tail snapper

Question
First off I'm not sure which one I caught but this fish is about 12 inches long and has 4 blue stripes running along the side of the fish.  It also has a yellow tail and was caught in Key WEst Florida in very shallow water.  We also caught mangrove snappers in the same area.

Our question is what kind of fish is it and if it is a bluelined is it edible??? I know the yellow snapper is some good eating but I want to make sure before we fry it up.

Thanks

Bob

Answer
Hi Bob;
 
Sorry, but I cannot give you a definite identification of the fish you caught.  I believe it is a grunt.  The reason scientists use latin names for identificatioin of fish species is because such a system is universal.  But we tend to use local names, and these can often be very misleading.  What is called by a certain name in a specific area may not have the same name elsewhere.  And what makes things even more confusing is that a paticular specific name is often applied to totally different species of fish in different places.  Names such as albacore, whiting, kingfish ane flounder are just of few that are used in different places for completely different species of fish.  What the locals in the keys call a blue lined snapper probably is a blue lined grunt.  But I cannot be certain.  As for eating quality, once again without specific identification I would not make a recommendation.  If the locals call it a blue lined snapper and eat it, then it is probably safe for you to eat also.  Sorry, but this is the best I can do.

-Rich