gloomy sea catfish
Cathorops hypophthalmus
Catfish endemic to Panama, living in coastal, brackish and fresh waters of rivers that drain into the Pacific. Its spines wound, and its flesh is sold fresh.
Also called: bagre-tristonho, bagre tristón, gloomy sea catfish
- maximum
- 35 cm
who is the gloomy sea catfish
Fish of the family Ariidae that occurs only in Panama, in rivers and coastal waters that drain into the Pacific. It lives near the bottom in marine, brackish and fresh waters, and reaches 35 cm total length. It is caught with a variety of artisanal gear, 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 in the river and estuary areas of the Panamanian Pacific.
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 gloomy sea catfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Elongated, scaleless catfish with barbels around the mouth and spines in the fins, like the other Ariidae catfish. Being endemic to Panama, where it lives helps set 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.
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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
Endemic to Panama, it occurs in rivers that drain into the Pacific and in coastal and brackish waters of the country.
Habitat: Near the bottom, in coastal, brackish and fresh waters of Panamanian Pacific rivers.
rules for the gloomy 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 cause wounds: 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 Panama's 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: Cathorops hypophthalmus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Cathorops hypophthalmusNames by country and language.
