pacific angelshark
Squatina californica
Pacific angelshark, from sandy and muddy bottoms near the coast, from Mexico to Peru. It can make a head strike and cause deep cuts.
Also called: cação-anjo-do-pacífico, angelote, tiburón angel, pacific angelshark
- maximum
- 152 cm
- depth
- 3–46 m
who is the pacific angelshark
The Pacific angelshark belongs to the family Squatinidae and reaches 152 cm. It lives on the shelf bottom and in littoral areas, from 3 to 46 m deep, and often buries itself in sand or mud. It is slow and not very active. It also appears near rocks, at the heads of submarine canyons and along kelp forests. It feeds on bottom fish, such as croakers and California halibut, and on squid. It is ovoviviparous, and the embryos feed only on the yolk. It is caught by commercial fishing.
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 angelshark.
fun facts
- Can live up to 35 years.
identification
Flattened shark with a body like a ray's and broad pectoral fins. Its most notable trait is behavior: it stays buried in sand or mud and, when touched, disturbed or speared, it raises its head and makes a quick strike.
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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
Occurs in the eastern Pacific, from Canada to the Gulf of California and, further south, to northern Peru, passing through Panama and Ecuador.
Habitat: Shelf and littoral areas, buried in sand or mud, from 3 to 46 m deep, near rocks and algae.
rules for the pacific angelshark
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.
Watch the head, which can make a quick strike and cause deep, painful cuts. Do not put your hand near the mouth or head; hold it by the body and release it with minimal handling. The species is vulnerable worldwide, so release it right away.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00661, b = 3.07; 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: Squatina californica (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Squatina californicaNames by country and language.