brazilian flathead
Percophis brasiliensis
Bottom fish of the Southwest Atlantic, from southern Brazil to Argentina, of commercial use and rarely seen in recreational fishing.
Also called: aipim, tira-vira, pez palo, brazilian flathead
- maximum
- 68 cm
- depth
- 5–75 m
who is the brazilian flathead
Fish of the family Percophidae, with an elongated body, reaching 68.5 cm. It lives on the bottom, at 5 to 75 m depth, in subtropical waters. It matures at around 41 cm. It has spines on the dorsal fin and a long anal fin. In Brazil it occurs from the Southeast to the South, and also in Uruguay and Argentina. It is known as aipim and tira-vira, and it is of interest to commercial fishing, but turns up rarely on the sport angler's line.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the brazilian flathead.
fun facts
- It can live up to 19 years.
identification
Elongated body and flattened head, typical of the family. It has spines on the dorsal fin and a long anal fin, and lives on the bottom, between 5 and 75 m deep. It is recognized more by body shape and habitat than by color marks.
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.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Lives in the Southwest Atlantic, from southern Brazil to central Argentina, with records in Uruguay.
Habitat: Bottom, 5 to 75 m deep, in subtropical waters.
coast
rules for the brazilian flathead
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 (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
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.
It is not dangerous, but has spines on the dorsal fin. Hold it by the body, carefully, and release it quickly.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00324, b = 3.09; 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
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Percophis brasiliensis (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Percophis brasiliensisNames 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.