fourwing flyingfish
Hirundichthys affinis
Surface-dwelling flyingfish, one of the most important species in commercial fishing in the eastern Caribbean. It is rarely caught on rod and line and is sold fresh.
Also called: avuador-da-pesca, holandês, peixe-avuador-pequeno, fourwing flyingfish
- maximum
- 33 cm
- depth
- 0–100 m
who is the fourwing flyingfish
Flyingfish of the family Exocoetidae. It reaches 33 cm and forms schools at the surface, both near and far from the coast, from the North American Atlantic to northern Brazil. It jumps out of the water and glides over long distances. It spawns at the surface and down to 20 m depth. In fishing, it is one of the most important commercial species of the eastern Caribbean, and is considered a good fish to eat. It is also used as bait and sold fresh.
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 fourwing flyingfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- In the eastern Caribbean, mature adults disappear at the end of spawning, in June, perhaps because they die after spawning.
identification
Elongated, thick body, slightly flattened underneath, with a short, blunt snout. The back is iridescent blue or green, and the dorsal fin has almost no color. The strongest mark is the very long, dark pectoral fins, with a light triangle at the base and a narrow white edge, and the large pelvic fins, which reach past the origin of the anal fin. It looks like the tropical two-wing flyingfish (Exocoetus volitans), which has grey pectorals.
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
In Latin America it occurs in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Guianas, Colombia, Cuba, Venezuela and northern Brazil.
Habitat: Sea surface, in schools, both near and far from the coast, from 0 to 100 m.
coast
rules for the fourwing flyingfish
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 poses no danger to people. Handle it with wet hands and return it to the water quickly.
in the kitchen
It is sold fresh and considered good to eat.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00813, b = 3.01; 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: Hirundichthys affinis (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Hirundichthys affinisNames 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.
