catalog Belonidae · predator

agujon needlefish

Tylosurus acus

Sea

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.

Also called: agulhão-lambaio, agulhão-branco (nome local em Pernambuco; não é o marlim-branco), agulhão, zambaia, agujon needlefish

forecast for agujon needlefish where found

Scientific illustration of Agujon needlefish

common size: 70–110 cm
maximum: 153 cm
common weight: 0.5–2 kg
record/max.: 3.7 kg
depth: 0–10 m
ideal water: 24–29 °C

overview

who is the agujon needlefish

The agulhão-lambaio (agujon needlefish) is one of the largest needlefish in the Atlantic, reaching 153 cm and 3.7 kg. It lives in coastal and oceanic waters, near the surface, over reefs and in open sea. In the western Atlantic it occurs from Massachusetts to Brazil, and in the eastern Atlantic from Morocco to the Mediterranean. Its two jaws form a strong bill armed with sharp teeth, and the fish hunts small fish. Its eggs have filaments that attach them to objects in the water. FishBase classifies it as a commercial and sport species, but notes that the market is limited by its greenish flesh. Artisanal fishers in Tamandaré (PE) call it agulhão-branco. FishBase classifies it as traumatogenic: the bill injures when the fish leaps.

fun facts

FishBase describes it as 'traumatogenic': the long bill injures anglers when the fish leaps, especially at night under light.
The eggs have filaments that attach them to objects in the water.
Fishers in Tamandaré (PE) call it agulhão-branco, a name that in sport fishing guides belongs to the white marlin.

how to recognize it

identification

Very elongated, round body, with a long, strong bill of sharp teeth, dark blue-green back and silver belly. Small black lateral keel on each side of the caudal peduncle and a deeply forked tail. Dorsal fin with 20 to 27 rays and anal fin with 20 to 24, both set far back. It is very similar to the zambaia-roliço (Tylosurus crocodilus): FishBase counts 90 to 95 vertebrae in the agulhão-lambaio and 75 to 80 in the zambaia-roliço, which does not help in the field. When in doubt, the care and handling are the same.

how agujon needlefish fishing looks

Loading the next 7 days…

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

In Brazil, the species is known to fishers in Pernambuco; FishBase gives its range as Massachusetts to Brazil and does not detail the coast, so this profile marks the North and Northeast. In Latin America, FishBase's list includes Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Colombia, Venezuela and the Guianas.

Habitat: Coastal and oceanic waters near the surface, over reefs and in open sea.

coast

North CoastNortheast Coastcoastalshelf

calendar and clock

when to fish

best season

time of year

JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Present all year in tropical waters; more active and closer to shore when the water is warm in spring and summer.

best time of day

Daytime, with peaks at dawn and dusk. Hunts by day near the surface; at night it comes to lights and may leap toward the boat.

weather, water and behavior

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

cold and cold fronts

It loses activity and moves away from shore when the water cools.

atmospheric pressure

Small effect.

moon

Small effect; at night boat lights draw it in and it leaps toward them.

rain

Little effect in open sea; muddy river water drives the fish away.

water level

Not applicable at sea.

noise

Small effect.

wind

Light chop hides the line and helps the surface lure; strong wind makes the fish hard to see.

tide

Current along the reef edge brings the lure and the needlefish together.

depth

Always at or near the surface, almost always in the top 2 m.

technique, gear and bait

how to fish

Surface casting Trolling Fly fishing

rod: 6'6" to 7'6", fast action, 12 to 25 lb
spinning / baitcasting reel: 3000 to 5000 spinning reel
line: braided line 15 to 30 lb
leader: fluorocarbon 30 to 50 lb or thin wire leader 20 to 30 lb, 40 cm (the teeth cut thin line)
hook: single 1/0 to 3/0 or small treble hook on the lure

lures

stickbait and popper 10 to 14 cm
15 to 30 g spoon
long streamer (fly)

natural baits

small fish, live or dead, cut into a long strip

accessories

long-nose pliers
protective glasses
luvas

tip from an angler

Reel in fast on the surface and let the lure zigzag. When the fish jumps, drop the rod tip and give slack so it doesn't throw the hook.

what the law says

rules for the agujon 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: Not on the Brazilian national list (Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667/2026). Outside Mexico we found no specific rule 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 sport and recreational fishing in Mexican federal waters, each angler may keep up to 10 marine fish per day, no more than 5 of the same species. The agulhão-lambaio is not among the species reserved for sport fishing and has no quota of its own. Fish over the bag limit must go back alive, and sport-caught fish may not be sold. Anglers fishing from a boat need the sport and recreational fishing permits provided for in the rule.

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

Hold the fish by the body, behind the head, with the bill away from your face and from other people. Remove the hook with long-nose pliers and release it with its head in the water. Never hold the fish by the bill, and wear protective glasses.

in the kitchen

FishBase says the meat is sold fresh and salted, but the market is limited because it is greenish. If you want to eat it, remove the skin and bones, bleed it and keep it on ice.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

total length (cm)

Length-weight relationship W = a·L^b (a = 0.00093, b = 3.1; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). 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.

scientific FishBase: Tylosurus acus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology and IUCN status. Page checked Oct 13, 2026. The common size range is an editorial estimate around the common length of 90 cm (standard length) reported by FishBase.
scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Tylosurus acusNames by country and language.
official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
scientific Pinto, M. F.; Mourão, J. S.; Alves, R. R. N. (2015). Use of ichthyofauna by artisanal fishermen at two protected areas along the coast of Northeast Brazil. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.Common names recorded from artisanal fishers in Tamandaré (PE) and the Batoque Extractive Reserve (CE).
official NOM-017-PESC-1994 (pesca deportivo-recreativa em águas de jurisdição federal do México), modificação publicada no DOF em 25/11/2013 (Sagarpa/Conapesca)Limit of 10 marine fish per angler per day, no more than 5 of the same species (item 4.9.1), return of the excess (4.9.5) and ban on selling sport-caught fish (4.11). Text checked Oct 13, 2026. The rule sets no quota of its own for this species.
scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Tylosurus acusThe list gives 'agulhão', 'agulhão-branco' and 'agulhão-lambaio' as Portuguese names. We did not find 'lambaio' in other sources consulted; the name in this profile follows the FishBase list.

don't confuse

similar species

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

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

Belonidae

Flat needlefish

Ablennes hians

A needlefish with a body flattened from side to side, dark bars on the flank and tall sickle-shaped lobes on the dorsal and anal fins. It lives in coastal and oceanic waters, near islands, and is attracted to light at night.

EstuarySea

time of year