oceanic puffer
Lagocephalus lagocephalus
Open-sea pufferfish, dark green, bluish or grayish brown on the back and white underneath. It should not be eaten: fatal poisoning is suspected.
Also called: baiacu-oceânico, baiacu, botete oceánico, tamboril oceánico, oceanic puffer
- maximum
- 61 cm
- record/max.
- 3.2 kg
- depth
- 10–100 m
who is the oceanic puffer
Pufferfish of the family Tetraodontidae, with a spindle-shaped body, reaching 61 cm and weighing up to 3.2 kg. It is a mostly oceanic and pelagic species, living near the bottom or in midwater, usually at 10 to 100 m deep, and has been recorded down to 476 m. It may enter estuaries. It feeds on crustaceans and squid. It occurs in tropical and temperate seas worldwide, and in Brazil there are records from Bahia to São Paulo. It has a commercial fishery and is considered a sport fish, but fatal poisoning is suspected to have been caused by it, and its flesh should not be eaten.
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 oceanic puffer; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Pufferfish with a spindle-shaped body, of a typical pufferfish form. Adults are dark green, grayish brown or bluish on the back and white below. Juveniles have stripes on the back, from the eye to the dorsal fin, and specimens under 33 cm have dark blotches at the front and in the middle of the belly and flanks, near the base of the pectoral fin. It looks like the smooth puffer (Lagocephalus laevigatus), of the same genus, but lives more in the open sea.
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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
In Latin America it lives in the open sea in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Cuba, Mexico and Central America. In Brazil there are records from the coast of Bahia to that of São Paulo.
Habitat: Open sea and shelf waters, near the bottom or in midwater, usually 10 to 100 m deep; it may enter estuaries.
coast
rules for the oceanic puffer
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.
Do not eat it: fatal poisoning is suspected from this species. Its strong teeth, fused into plates, cut line and fingers, so use pliers to remove the hook and return the fish to the water.
in the kitchen
It should not be eaten: it is suspected of causing fatal poisoning.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01096, b = 2.91; 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: Lagocephalus lagocephalus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Lagocephalus lagocephalusNames 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.
