vieja
Paralabrax dewegeri
Cabrilla of soft bottoms and seagrass beds in northern South America, with records from the northern coast of Brazil.
Also called: cabrilha-velha, mero viejo, vieja
- maximum
- 43 cm
- record/max.
- 1.3 kg
who is the vieja
The cabrilha-velha is a Serranidae that reaches 43 cm and up to 1.3 kg. It lives on soft or semi-hard bottoms, in coastal waters down to 50 m that can be brackish, and juveniles usually stay among seagrass. It occurs along the northern coast of South America, from Colombia and Venezuela to the Guianas and the northern coast of Brazil, and there are records from Mexico. It is simultaneously hermaphroditic. It is fished commercially, as a bottom fish.
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 vieja; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Brown body, more yellowish below, with seven dark brown vertical bands on the lower part of the body. It has a large dark brown spot, with a pale yellow edge, at the base of the pectoral fin. The pectoral, pelvic and anal fins are dark brown. It can be confused with the tobacco seabass (Serranus tabacarius), which has yellow spots on the back and lacks these bands and this dark spot.
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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 occurs in northern South America, from Colombia and Venezuela to the Guianas and the northern coast of Brazil, with records from Mexico.
Habitat: Soft or semi-hard bottoms, in coastal waters down to 50 m that can be brackish, with juveniles near seagrass.
coast
rules for the vieja
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.
It poses no danger to anglers. As a bottom fish, it suffers from pressure change when brought up from deeper waters; release it carefully.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01122, b = 3.05; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa pelo gênero e formato do corpo)). 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: Paralabrax dewegeri (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Paralabrax dewegeriNames 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.
