A boops boops fish has a lateral-long and a slightly compressed body. The scales of a bogue are sliver with white and yellow hues and the upper half of its body has four to five mustard yellow longitudinal stripes. The eyes are the most noticeable feature of this species as they are large, circular, and silver-gray with black pupils. The boops fish size can reach a maximum of 14 in (36 cm). The name boops boops is a romanization of the Greek boōps which means "cow eye." In most languages its common name refers to the fish's, large bugged out eyes.