freckled sea catfish
Notarius lentiginosus
Sea catfish common on the Pacific coast of Panama. Its spines wound anyone who catches it, and its flesh is sold fresh.
Also called: bagre-mosqueado, bagre moteado, freckled sea catfish
- maximum
- 35 cm
who is the freckled sea catfish
Fish of the family Ariidae that occurs only in Panama, on the Pacific coast. It lives near the bottom in marine waters and reaches 35 cm total length. It is a common species in the region, caught commercially, and its flesh is sold fresh. Like other sea catfish, it has no scales and has spines in the fins, which cause wounds. For the sport angler, it is an occasional catch along the coast of Panama.
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 freckled sea catfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Elongated sea catfish, scaleless, with barbels around the mouth and spines in the fins, like all Ariidae catfish. It occurs in Panama, which helps tell it apart from catfish of other coasts. Among the similar species living in Panama, such as Cathorops tuyra and C. dasycephalus, the difference depends on detailed examination and not on a single trait.
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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 Panama, in the central-eastern Pacific, in marine waters near the bottom.
Habitat: Near the bottom, in marine waters of the Panamanian Pacific coast.
rules for the freckled sea catfish
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.
The fin spines wound: use a cloth or glove, remove the hook with pliers, and release the fish with care.
in the kitchen
It is sold fresh, and for that reason it has value in commercial fishing.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00468, b = 3.13; 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: Notarius lentiginosus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Notarius lentiginosusNames by country and language.
