Methodology
Pelagic Studio simulates how fish perceive fishing lures using peer-reviewed visual neuroscience. Every parameter in the model is grounded in published research — not guesswork.
Each species profile is built from the best available evidence. Evidence quality varies — we clearly indicate the confidence level for each species.
Thunnus albacares
Dichromat (2 cones) · Rods: 483 nm
Twin cones: λmax = 485 nm
Blue-green — dominant channel, primary brightness and motion detection
Single cones: λmax = 426 nm
Violet — secondary channel, short-wavelength discrimination
No long-wavelength cones. Red, orange, and most yellow appear as dark grey or black.
Loew, McFarland & Margulies (2002). Developmental Changes in the Visual Pigments of the Yellowfin Tuna. Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology, 35(4), 235-246.
Caranx ignobilis
Dichromat (2 cones) · Rods: 495 nm
Twin cones: λmax = 495 nm
Blue-green — ~10nm green-shifted from tuna, dominant channel
Single cones: λmax = 430 nm
Blue — secondary channel
Similar to tuna but slightly green-shifted. Blind to red/orange. Inferred from yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) MSP data.
Nagloo, Hart & Collin (2016). The accessory optic system in yellowtail kingfish. Aquaculture, 474, 130-137.
Lutjanus campechanus
Trichromat (3 cones) · Rods: 497 nm
Double cone (RH2): λmax = 520 nm
Green — dominant channel, enables green/chartreuse detection
Double cone (LWS): λmax = 555 nm
Yellow-green — enables warm-color perception at shallow depths
Single cone (SWS2): λmax = 440 nm
Blue — short-wavelength discrimination
Can see greens, yellows, and some oranges that tuna cannot. LWS cone provides broader spectral range, especially at shallow depths.
Lythgoe, Muntz, Partridge, Shand & Williams (1994). The ecology of the visual pigments of snappers on the Great Barrier Reef. J Comp Physiol A, 174, 461-467.
Plectropomus leopardus
Trichromat (3 cones) · Rods: 500 nm
Double cone (RH2): λmax = 515 nm
Green — dominant channel, fine-tuned for reef background contrast
Double cone (LWS): λmax = 555 nm
Yellow-green — warm-color detection for prey contrast
Single cone (SWS2): λmax = 440 nm
Blue — short-wavelength discrimination
Reef ambush predator. Highest uncertainty — no direct MSP data for any sport fishing grouper. Inferred from Epinephelus ERG + genomics.
Kim et al. (2015). ERG evaluation and opsin gene expression in longtooth grouper (E. bruneus). Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology, 48(6).
For each pixel in the uploaded image, the algorithm performs the following steps:
Note: Exact fish perception cannot be measured — we can only model it from physiological data. The output is the best scientific approximation, not a definitive rendering of subjective fish experience.
The depth slider applies the Beer-Lambert law of light attenuation through water: I(d) = I₀ × e^(−Kd × d), where Kd is the diffuse attenuation coefficient for each wavelength band. Coefficients are from Jerlov (1976) Type I water — clear open ocean conditions typical of offshore pelagic fishing grounds.
| Wavelength | Color | Kd (per m) | % at 10m | % at 50m |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 420-460 nm | Violet-Blue | 0.025 | 78% | 29% |
| 460-500 nm | Blue | 0.020 | 82% | 37% |
| 500-540 nm | Blue-Green | 0.030 | 74% | 22% |
| 540-580 nm | Green-Yellow | 0.065 | 52% | 4% |
| 580-620 nm | Yellow-Orange | 0.130 | 27% | <1% |
| 620-660 nm | Orange-Red | 0.290 | 6% | ~0% |
| 660-700 nm | Red | 0.430 | 1% | ~0% |
Loew, E.R., McFarland, W.N. & Margulies, D. (2002). Developmental Changes in the Visual Pigments of the Yellowfin Tuna, Thunnus albacares. Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology, 35(4), 235-246.
Nagloo, N., Hart, N.S. & Collin, S.P. (2016). The accessory optic system and retinal topography of the yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi). Aquaculture, 474, 130-137.
Lythgoe, J.N., Muntz, W.R.A., Partridge, J.C., Shand, J. & Williams, D.M. (1994). The ecology of the visual pigments of snappers (Lutjanidae) on the Great Barrier Reef. J Comp Physiol A, 174, 461-467.
Kim, S.J. et al. (2015). Electroretinographic evaluation and SWS1 opsin gene expression in the vision of juvenile longtooth grouper (Epinephelus bruneus). Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology, 48(6).
Govardovskii, V.I., Fyhrquist, N., Reuter, T., Kuzmin, D.G. & Donner, K. (2000). In search of the visual pigment template. Visual Neuroscience, 17(4), 509-528.
Jerlov, N.G. (1976). Marine Optics (2nd ed.). Elsevier Oceanography Series 14, Amsterdam.
Cortesi, F. et al. (2020). Visual system diversity in coral reef fishes. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 106, 31-42.