Fishing For The 2023 Color Of The Year

There are plenty of ways to mark the arrival of a new year — a fresh 2023 calendar, new planner, maybe a deep clean of your home (or boat!). For those with an eye for design, color company Pantone’s Color of the Year is another major way to welcome a new era of inspiration and opportunity.

This year’s Color of the Year is a vibrant hue called “Viva Magenta,” defined as “a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength.” Pantone adds that Viva Magenta is “brave and fearless,” and “revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint.”

If that sounds like your preferred approach to angling and life on the water, you’re not alone! Fortunately, there are many naturally occurring flourishes of magenta to observe from Blackfin fishing boats — you just need to know where to look! Just read on as we explore a few of our favorite pops of color beneath the surface.

Purple Dottyback

This magenta saltwater fish is a popular pick for aquariums — and if you take one look, you’ll understand why! Its vibrant color almost looks like an artificial neon orb against the darkness of the depths. Outside of aquariums, lucky snorkelers may find the purple dottyback in Western Pacific spots like Samoa and the Ryukyu Islands.

Pink Betta

Betta is another fish we traditionally associate with at-home aquariums, but in the wild, they originated in Thailand — specifically, the country’s streams, rivers, and rice paddies. Nicknamed fighting fish for their aggressive behavior, betta fish come in a variety of beautiful colors — including vibrant pinks and magentas that are sure to fit this year’s theme!

Purple Stinger

Like its name might suggest, the purple stinger is, indeed, a jellyfish — so you’ll definitely want to admire its dazzling color from afar! This type of jellyfish, aka the Pelagia noctiluca, can also emit light, so it may look a little like a lava lamp underwater. However, there’s no electric trickery going on — the purple stinger’s bioluminescence is a natural response to external stimuli like waves, passing boats, and other sea creatures. According to the Smithsonian, a frightened purple stinger might even leave glowing fluid in its wake! 

Sea Anemone

Ah, the sea anemone. An essential part of the coral reef ecosystem, this type of marine invertebrate may be mistaken for a plant — however, far from vegetation, the anemone is actually a marine predator that uses its stinging tentacles (similar to those you’ll find on a jellyfish) to catch and subdue its prey. Different kinds of anemone come in different hues — but bold pink is an especially familiar feature of the ocean floor.

Bonus: Blackfin Flourishes

A measly 5% of the ocean has been explored — so there may very well be more pink, purple, and magenta sea creatures out there! However, until we discover them, you can still surround yourself with the bold, fearless, on-the-water energy that Viva Magenta is all about — and you can start on your very own Blackfin. As you prepare for the upcoming spring season, deck out your space in vibrant beach towels, throw pillows, and accessories (think new shades or some fun board shorts) that speak to the Pantone color’s spirit of fun and celebration.

We hope today’s color guide allows you to discover your on-the-water environs in a new way! From all of us here at Blackfin Boats, we’d like to wish you and your family a very happy 2023.