pacific staghorn sculpin
Leptocottus armatus
Bottom fish of Pacific bays and estuaries, with a large, pointed spine near the gill cover. Anglers consider it a nuisance.
Also called: cabeçudo-chifrudo, charrasco de astas, pacific staghorn sculpin
- maximum
- 46 cm
- depth
- 0–156 m
who is the pacific staghorn sculpin
Sculpin of the family Cottidae, with an elongated body, reaching 46 cm and a common size of 35.5 cm. It lives on the bottom, mostly sand, in bays and estuaries, from the intertidal zone down to 156 m. It occurs in the Pacific, from Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. It feeds on crabs, shrimp and amphipods, as well as small fish, mollusks and worms. Intertidal specimens breathe air when they are out of the water. Anglers consider the species a nuisance, but it appears in commercial catches and in public aquariums.
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 pacific staghorn sculpin; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- When stressed, it spreads its gill covers and makes a deep sound.
- Some newly formed juveniles move from estuaries into fresh water and may stay there for up to six weeks.
identification
Elongated body, with a large spine on the upper edge of the gill cover, ending in sharp, curved points that turn upward. The spiny part of the dorsal fin has a large dark blotch near the rear. The back is olive to greenish, and the underside, below the lateral line, is yellow-orange to white. The pectoral fins are yellow with five or six dark green bands.
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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, only in Mexico, as far as San Quintín Bay, in northern Baja California, in bays and estuaries; the species occurs from Alaska to Mexico.
Habitat: Bays and estuaries, mainly over sand, from the intertidal zone down to 156 m.
rules for the pacific staghorn sculpin
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 has been recorded. The large spine on the gill cover and the dorsal spines can cut, so hold it carefully.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01047, b = 3.19; 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: Leptocottus armatus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Leptocottus armatusNames by country and language.
