western atlantic seabream
Archosargus rhomboidalis
Porgy of mangroves and estuaries of the western Atlantic, which also eats plant material and has a dark spot behind the gill.
Also called: canhanha, salema-feiticeira, sambuio, guatucupajuba, sargo amarillo
- maximum
- 33 cm
- record/max.
- 0.6 kg
- depth
- 1–40 m
who is the western atlantic seabream
The canhanha is of the family Sparidae, reaching 33 cm and up to 550 g. It lives in the western Atlantic, from New Jersey to Argentina. In Latin America it ranges from Mexico and the Caribbean to the Guianas, Colombia, Venezuela and the Brazilian coast. It prefers muddy bottoms in mangrove channels and sandy bottoms with vegetation, and sometimes appears in brackish water or on coral reefs near mangroves. It eats small bottom bivalves and crustaceans, plus plant material. It is fished commercially.
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 western atlantic seabream; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Its large intestine takes up 90% of the digestive tract and is twice the length of the body.
identification
Tall, compressed body with a spiny dorsal fin, typical of porgies. The main mark is a large dark spot, the size of the eye, just below the lateral line, behind the gill opening. In males the pelvic fins are wholly or partly dark; in females they are orange. The dark spot and the color of the pelvic fins help identify it among mangrove porgies, such as the pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides).
Loading the next 7 days…
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 ranges from Mexico and the Caribbean to the Guianas, Colombia, Venezuela and the Brazilian coast.
Habitat: Mud and sand bottoms with vegetation, in mangroves and estuaries, 1 to 40 m.
coast
rules for the western atlantic seabream
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. Small specimens can be released quickly, without spending much time out of the water.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01995, b = 2.98; 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: Archosargus rhomboidalis (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Archosargus rhomboidalisNames 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.
