blackwing searobin
Prionotus rubio
Searobin of bays, estuaries and the shallow shelf of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, which shows up mostly in commercial fishing.
Also called: cabrinha-de-asa-negra, rubio aletinegra, espátula aletinegra, blackwing searobin
- maximum
- 30 cm
- depth
- 11–13 m
who is the blackwing searobin
Searobin of the family Triglidae, reaching 30 cm. It lives in bays, estuaries and the middle shelf, usually at 11 to 13 m, on demersal bottoms. It occurs from North Carolina, USA, to Cuba, and also in the northern Gulf of Mexico, to Texas. In Latin America it appears in Cuba and Mexico. It has a commercial fishery and is rarely fished on rod. Like other searobins, it has a large head with bony plates and spines.
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 blackwing searobin; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Large, armored head with bony plates and spines, typical of the searobins of the family Triglidae, which also have large pectoral fins. The popular name, asa-negra, points to dark fins. It lives in shallow bays and estuaries and on the middle shelf, in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, where it shares the habitat with the horned searobin (Bellator militaris), which is much smaller and has males with very long dorsal spines.
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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 Cuba and Mexico, in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
Habitat: Bays, estuaries and middle shelf, usually 11 to 13 m, on demersal bottoms.
rules for the blackwing searobin
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.
It poses no danger to the angler. The head spines call for care when handling it and removing the hook.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00589, b = 3.09; 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: Prionotus rubio (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Prionotus rubioNames by country and language.
