sailfin flyingfish
Parexocoetus brachypterus
Small flyingfish of coastal waters, which jumps and glides out of the water. It is caught now and then by the commercial fleet and is of little importance to rod anglers.
Also called: avuador-de-nadadeira-curta, peixe-voador, volador aletón, sailfin flyingfish
- maximum
- 20 cm
- depth
- 0–20 m
who is the sailfin flyingfish
The short-finned flyingfish belongs to the family Exocoetidae. It reaches 20 cm and lives in coastal waters, near the surface, from 0 to 20 m. It occurs in the western Atlantic, from Florida to Brazil, and in the Caribbean, and also in the eastern Atlantic, from Guinea to Angola. During spawning, groups of three or four individuals gather. It is carnivorous. It is not an important food fish, but the commercial fleet catches it now and then.
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 sailfin flyingfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- During spawning, groups of three or four leap together over the surface of the water.
identification
Iridescent blue-green back and silvery belly. The dorsal fin is black, except at the base and the rear rays, which are pale, and the pelvic fins are grey. Unlike the tropical two-wing flyingfish (Exocoetus volitans), which has grey pectorals and tail, this one has a dark dorsal fin. It looks like the fourwing flyingfish (Hirundichthys affinis), but its pectoral is dark with a white edge.
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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.
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
It occurs in the Caribbean and the western Atlantic, from Florida to Brazil, and also in a separate population in the tropical Pacific, in the Bay of Panama.
Habitat: Coastal surface waters, 0 to 20 m.
coast
rules for the sailfin 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.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00646, b = 3.04; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). 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: Parexocoetus brachypterus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Parexocoetus brachypterusNames 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.
