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catalog Belonidae · predator

mexican needlefish

Tylosurus fodiator

Sea

A robust needlefish of the eastern Pacific, with a short, thick beak and over 1 m long. It hunts skimming the surface near the coast and jumps out of the water: the beak wounds, be careful.

Also called: agulha-mexicana, Mexican needlefish

forecast for mexican needlefish where found
Scientific illustration of Mexican needlefish
common size
60–100 cm
maximum
134 cm
common weight
0.3–1.4 kg
record/max.
9.9 kg
depth
0–10 m
ideal water
24–30 °C
overview

who is the mexican needlefish

A needlefish (Belonidae) of the eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California to Panama and Ecuador, including Cocos Island. It is more robust and has a shorter beak than the aguja del Pacífico. It lives near the surface, generally close to the coast, but also offshore, and mainly eats small fish. Its eggs stick to floating objects by filaments. It is sold fresh and salted. For the angler it is a light-tackle fish for thin bait, with fast strikes and jumps. FishBase classifies it as traumatogenic: its pointed beak can injure anyone nearby, and the fish jumps easily, especially at night and under light.

fun facts

  • FishBase classifies it as traumatogenic: its pointed beak can injure anyone near the jumping fish.
  • According to Robertson & Allen, it is endemic to the eastern Pacific and reaches 163 cm.
  • The eggs attach to floating objects by filaments on their shell.
how to recognize it

identification

A longer, more robust body than the other coastal needlefish, dark greenish-blue back and silvery flanks. Relatively short, thick, straight beak with pointed teeth. Dorsal and anal fins with tall front lobes, long pectoral and pelvic fins, a tail with a concave to slightly forked edge and a larger lower lobe, and a black, raised keel at the base of the tail. The aguja del Pacífico (Tylosurus pacificus) is more slender, with a long, thin beak and a more forked tail.

how mexican needlefish fishing looks

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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.

distribution

where found

open on the large map

Not found in Brazil. Eastern Pacific: from the Gulf of California to Panama and Ecuador, including Cocos and Galápagos Islands.

Habitat: Surface of coastal and offshore waters; enters bays and gathers under lights at night.

calendar and clock

when to fish

best season

time of yearbest: Apr–Oct
JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Present all year. The presence of small bait fish at the surface matters more than the month.

best time of day

0h6h12h18h sunrise ~6amsunset ~6pm

Daytime, with peaks at dawn and dusk. Hunts by day, skimming the surface, and gathers under lights at night, when it also attacks.

weather, water and behavior

what affects the mexican needlefish
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.

cold and cold fronts

Water below about 20 °C drives the fish away from the surface.

atmospheric pressure

Little direct effect.

moon

Dark nights favor light fishing.

rain

Little effect.

water level

Not applicable at sea.

noise

Nearby motor noise scares it off; light on the water attracts it.

wind

Choppy seas make it hard to see surface strikes.

tide

Little direct effect.

depth

At the surface, down to about 2 m.

technique, gear and bait

how to fish

Surface castingNatural bait with floatFly fishing
rod
6'6" to 7', 10 to 20 lb
spinning / baitcasting reel
spinning reel 3000 to 4000
line
braided line 15 to 25 lb
leader
fine steel wire 30 lb, 20 to 30 cm: the teeth cut fine nylon and fluorocarbon
hook
hook no. 1 to 3/0; stinger (second hook) fixed to the bait's tail

lures

  • small spoon
  • thin surface bait, 10 to 15 cm
  • streamer, 12 to 18 cm (fly)

natural baits

  • sardine strip
  • small sardine

accessories

  • long-nose pliers
  • luvas
  • polarized glasses

tip from an angler

At night, avoid light on the water near people on the boat or the pier: the fish jumps hard and the beak wounds. When bringing in the fish, hold it away from your face and body.

what the law says

rules for the mexican needlefish

Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: FishBase does not record an IUCN assessment for the species.

Mexico: up to 5 per species and 10 saltwater fish per day

5 specimens of the species per angler per day, within the limit of 10 saltwater fish

In recreational sport fishing in Mexican federal waters, each angler may keep up to 10 marine fish per day, with at most 5 of the same species. The Mexican needlefish is not among the species reserved for sport fishing (marlins, sailfish, swordfish, sábalo, roosterfish and dorado, up to 50 nautical miles from shore, item 0.3 of the rule) and has no quota of its own. Fish over the limit are released alive, and sport-caught fish may not be sold. Anyone fishing from a boat needs an individual permit; fishing from shore does not.

Source: Amendment to NOM-017-PESC-1994 (recreational sport fishing in federal waters of Mexico), published in the DOF on Nov 25, 2013, items 0.3, 4.3, 4.9.1, 4.9.5, 4.11 and 4.14 (Sagarpa/Conapesca)

catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.

A strong, jumping fish: wear gloves, hold it behind the head away from the beak, and remove the hook with long-nose pliers. Release it quickly.

in the kitchen

Sold fresh and salted. The bones turn green when cooked, which is normal and harmless.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00112, b = 3.05; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.

estimated weight

—

sources and references

The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.

  1. scientific FishBase: Tylosurus fodiator (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
  2. scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Tylosurus fodiatorNames by country and language.
  3. scientific Robertson, D. R. & Allen, G. R. (2024). Shorefishes of the Eastern Pacific online information system, versão 3.0. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute: Tylosurus fodiatorDescription, colors, size, depth and distribution in the eastern Pacific. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026. Cites length up to 163 cm and also uses the names houndfish and crocodile needlefish; we kept the 134 cm (and 9.9 kg) published by FishBase.
  4. official DOF: Modificação da NOM-017-PESC-1994, para regular a pesca deportivo-recreativa em águas de jurisdição federal do México (publicada em 25/11/2013)Reserves species for sport fishing (item 0.3), permits (4.3 and 4.14), rods and hooks (4.6), bait (4.7), daily limits at sea (4.9.1) and in fresh water (4.9.2), catch and release (4.9.5), closed zones and seasons (4.10), and a ban on selling the catch (4.11). Text checked on Oct 13, 2026; the publication date (Nov 25, 2013) comes from Secretaría de Economía rules that cite the amendment.
don't confuse

similar species

Illustration of Pacific agujon needlefish
Belonidae

Pacific agujon needlefish

Tylosurus pacificus

A long, slender needlefish of the eastern Pacific, with a long beak full of teeth. It hunts very close to the surface and gathers under lights at night; it takes thin bait and small spoons.

Sea
time of yearbest: Apr–Oct
Illustration of Hound needlefish
Belonidae

Hound needlefish

Tylosurus crocodilus

A large needlefish with a rounded body and a strong beak, which hunts fish at the surface of lagoons and reefs. It strikes surface lures on the cast and when trolling, and its beak wounds anyone in the path of its jump.

Sea
time of year
Illustration of Agujon needlefish
Belonidae

Agujon needlefish

Tylosurus acus

One of the largest needlefish in the Atlantic, over 1.5 m, with a strong bill and quick leaps, it strikes surface lures over reefs and open sea. Caution: the bill can injure anyone in its path.

Sea
time of year
Illustration of Atlantic needlefish
Belonidae

Atlantic needlefish

Strongylura marina

A surface needlefish that lives in estuaries, mangroves and lagoons, enters fresh water and strikes small baits. Good for practicing on light tackle; the pointed beak calls for care when unhooking it.

EstuarySea
time of year