pink maomao
Caprodon longimanus
Orange-red badejo of Chilean reefs, which turns up on the line now and then and has very good flesh to eat.
Also called: badejo-rosado, pink maomao
- maximum
- 55 cm
- depth
- 15–60 m
who is the pink maomao
Fish of the family Anthiadidae, a relative of the garoupa and the badejo, fusiform, reaching 55 cm. It lives near reefs, from the bottom up to midwater, usually between 15 and 60 m. In Latin America it is recorded in Chile, and its exact distribution is uncertain because of classification problems with the species. It feeds on plankton and small fish, opportunistically. In angling, it occasionally turns up on the line on a small hook, and its flesh is very good to eat.
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 pink maomao; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Solid orange-red, or with black spots on the dorsal fin. The tail has a deep notch in the middle, in both sexes. To tell it from the badejo-aurora, the other species of the genus in Chile, look at the tail: the badejo-aurora's tail is rounded at the tip, with no such notch.
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
It occurs in Chile. The species is known from the southern Pacific, both east and west, and its exact distribution is uncertain because of classification problems.
Habitat: Near coastal reefs, from the bottom up to midwater, usually 15 to 60 m.
rules for the pink maomao
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
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.
No venom and no dangerous spine. Handle with care and release promptly.
in the kitchen
The flesh is very good to eat.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01413, b = 3.0; 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
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: Caprodon longimanus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Caprodon longimanusNames by country and language.
