catalog Malacanthidae · predator

sand tilefish

Malacanthus plumieri

Sea

A long, pale fish of sand and gravel bottoms, which builds mounds of shell and rock fragments near reefs and dives head-first into the pile when startled. It often turns up unexpectedly in bottom fishing, from 10 to 50 m.

Also called: bom-nome, pirá (nome de rotulagem), sand tilefish, whitey, sand eel

forecast for sand tilefish where found

Scientific illustration of Sand tilefish

common size: 30–50 cm
maximum: 70 cm
common weight: 0.2–0.8 kg
record/max.: 1.0 kg
depth: 10–50 m
ideal water: 24–29 °C

overview

who is the sand tilefish

The bom-nome (sand tilefish), labeled "pirá" in trade rules, is a bottom fish of the western Atlantic, from North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean and, according to FishBase, as far as the Río de la Plata; it also occurs at Ascension Island. It lives on sand and gravel, in shallow water from 10 to 50 m (records up to 153 m), and builds mounds of shell and gravel fragments near reefs and seagrass; when startled, it dives head-first into the mound. It eats stomatopods, fish, polychaetes, chitons, sea urchins, starfish, amphipods and shrimp. It reaches 70 cm standard length and 1 kg. It is a small commercial fish, and FishBase lists it as a sport fish. It bites when handled, and there is a record of specimens traded as aquarium fish in Ceará.

fun facts

It builds mounds of shell and rock fragments, and dives head-first into the mound when startled.
Portaria MPA nº 532/2025 uses "pirá" for the species; in the app, Pirá is the freshwater fish Conorhynchos conirostris, from the São Francisco.
Hovers at the entrance of the mound, rippling its long dorsal and anal fins.
FishBase records that at least 7 specimens were sold as aquarium fish in Ceará between 1995 and 2000.

how to recognize it

identification

Long, almost cylindrical body, pale in color, whitish-yellow to blue-grey, with light yellow and bluish marks on the head. Dorsal and anal fins very long and low, rippling when the fish hovers at the entrance of the mound, and a crescent-shaped tail. Living beside a gravel mound is the best clue. It differs from the peixe-batata (Lopholatilus), which has a nape crest and lives much deeper.

how sand tilefish fishing looks

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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.

distribution

where found

open on the large map

Western Atlantic, from North Carolina (USA) to the Gulf of Mexico and the whole Caribbean, as far as the Río de la Plata in Uruguay, and at Ascension Island (FishBase). FishBase cites Brazil, with aquarium trade in Ceará, and gives a broad distribution, down to the Río de la Plata; in Brazilian waters the species is best known from the tropical coast.

Habitat: Sand and gravel bottoms in shallow water, from 10 to 50 m (down to 153 m), where it builds mounds of shell and rock fragments near reefs and seagrass.

coast

North CoastNortheast CoastSoutheast CoastSouth Coastcoastalshelf

calendar and clock

when to fish

best season

time of year

JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

It is fished all year in tropical water; the fish shows up more when the water is clear and calm.

best time of day

Daytime. A visual fish, active by daylight, hovering near the mound. Fishing is best in sunny hours, in clear water.

weather, water and behavior

what affects the sand tilefish
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.

cold and cold fronts

A warm-water species: a sharp drop in temperature makes the fish retreat into its mound.

atmospheric pressure

A front with rough seas stirs up the shallow bottom water and spoils the fishing.

moon

Little influence; bottom visibility matters more.

rain

Heavy rain and muddy water reduce visibility, which it relies on to hunt.

water level

Does not apply at sea. The equivalent is clear water over the sand bottom.

noise

A fish of light, shallow bottoms: a hull bump startles it and sends it into the mound.

wind

Strong wind kicks up sand and reduces visibility over the mound.

tide

Moderate current helps carry the bait's scent to the mound.

depth

Usually between 10 and 50 m, on sand and gravel, always near the mound.

technique, gear and bait

how to fish

Bottom fishing from a boat Natural bait on the bottom Bottom casting

rod: 6' to 7', medium action, 12 to 25 lb
spinning / baitcasting reel: spinning reel 3000 to 5000 or low-profile baitcasting reel
line: braid 20 to 30 lb
leader: fluorocarbon 30 to 40 lb, 1 m
hook: single hook or circle hook 1/0 to 3/0

lures

30 to 60 g jig worked close to the bottom
silicone lure with a 20 to 40 g head

natural baits

shrimp
pieces of squid or fish
minhoca-do-mar

accessories

sliding sinker of 30 to 80 g
long-nose pliers
gloves, because the fish bites

tip from an angler

Cast beside the gravel mound and drag the bait slowly along the bottom; the fish leaves its shelter to take it and returns to the mound.

what the law says

rules for the sand tilefish

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 (Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667/2026). The IUCN classifies it as Least Concern (2013 assessment). We found no specific Brazilian federal minimum size or quota for the species; IN MMA nº 53/2005 lists only the peixe-batata (Lopholatilus villarii), a different species from the same family.

Mexico: up to 5 per species and 10 saltwater fish per day

5 specimens of the species per angler per day, within the limit of 10 saltwater fish

In sport and recreational fishing in Mexican federal waters, each angler may keep up to 10 marine fish per day, no more than 5 of the same species. The bom-nome (matajuelo blanco) is not among the species reserved for sport fishing (marlins, sailfish, swordfish, dorado, roosterfish and tarpon) and has no quota of its own. Fish over the bag limit must go back alive, and sport-caught fish are for the angler's own use, not for sale. Anglers fishing from a boat need a Conapesca permit.

Source: Amendment to NOM-017-PESC-1994 (recreational sport fishing in federal waters of Mexico), published in the DOF on Nov 25, 2013, items 4.9.1 and 4.9.5 (Sagarpa/Conapesca)

Colombia: AUNAP license and catch and release as the main practice

personal AUNAP license; keep only fish that meets the minimum size, for personal useconfirm with the agency

Colombian sport fishing requires the personal, non-transferable AUNAP license (natural persons, nationals or foreigners). The resolution sets catch and release as the main practice and only allows keeping specimens that meet the minimum sizes, for personal use. We found no specific minimum size or marine quota for this species; confirm with AUNAP before taking any fish home.

Source: Resolución AUNAP nº 0549, of Mar 18, 2022 (sport fishing), arts. 6º and 8º

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.

FishBase notes that it bites when handled: use long-nose pliers, gloves and a boga-grip. Release it quickly; in shallow water barotrauma is less serious than in slope fishing.

in the kitchen

It is sold fresh on a small scale. FishBase classifies it as traumatogenic (it bites), with no ciguatera records.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

total length (cm)

Length-weight relationship W = a·L^b (a = 0.0055, b = 3.03; 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

The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.

scientific FishBase: Malacanthus plumieri (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Malacanthus plumieriNames 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.
official Portaria MPA nº 532, de 23 de setembro de 2025: nomes científicos e nomes comuns das principais espécies de peixes de interesse comercialAnnex: Malacanthus plumieri, name "Pirá" (checked in the text of the Annex). "Bom-nome" comes from FishBase.
official NOM-017-PESC-1994 e sua modificação: pesca deportivo-recreativa em águas de jurisdição federal do MéxicoItem 4.9.1: up to 10 marine fish per angler per day, no more than 5 per species. The original text (DOF May 9, 1995) was also read at https://platiica.economia.gob.mx/normalizacion/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/PDF_Normas_Publicas/017-pesc.pdf.
official Resolução AUNAP nº 0549, de 18 de março de 2022: lineamentos para a pesca esportiva e recreativa na ColômbiaSummary of articles 6 (license) and 8 (catch and release, minimum sizes). We did not check the per-species quota and size values, which depend on the full text.
official Instrução Normativa MMA nº 53, de 22 de novembro de 2005: tamanhos mínimos de captura no litoral do ES ao RSThe species is not in Annexes I and II (checked in the consolidated reproduction of the rule), so there is no federal minimum size under that rule. We found no other federal minimum-size rule or specific quota for the species.

don't confuse

similar species

LatilidaeVU

Tilefish

Lopholatilus villarii

Deep-bottom fish of the Southeast and South, with a fleshy crest on the nape. Vulnerable: retention only from 40 cm, and fleet closed season in September and October.

Sea