flying gurnard
Dactylopterus volitans
Fish of sand and reef bottoms, with huge fan-shaped pectoral fins, which it uses to explore the bottom. It shows up now and then on the line and also gets caught in nets.
Also called: coió, avuador-carga-de-palha, peixe-voador, volador, alón volador, flying gurnard
- maximum
- 50 cm
- record/max.
- 1.8 kg
- depth
- 1–100 m
who is the flying gurnard
Fish of the family Dactylopteridae, with a spindle-shaped body and huge fan-shaped pectoral fins, which look like wings, although it does not fly. It lives on sand, mud and rock bottoms, from 1 to 100 m, in tropical and subtropical waters, and also enters brackish water. It reaches 50 cm and 1.8 kg, and its common size is around 38 cm. It explores the bottom with the free part of its pectoral fins and mainly eats crabs, mollusks and small fish. It occurs on both sides of the Atlantic: on the western coast, from Canada to Argentina, and from the English Channel to Angola on the eastern coast. It is caught now and then on lines and also gets caught in nets.
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 flying gurnard.
fun facts
- It uses the free part of its pectoral fins to explore the bottom.
identification
Spindle-shaped body, with a huge fan-shaped pectoral fin whose front rays are separated and form a small lobe. It is the most visible mark of the species and sets it apart from other bottom fish of the region. Despite its popular name of flying fish (peixe-voador), it is not related to the true flying fishes (Exocoetidae). It also has no venom gland.
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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 from Brazil to Argentina, in the Caribbean, Mexico and Venezuela, on shallow sand, mud and reef bottoms.
Habitat: Sand, mud and reef bottoms, 1 to 100 m, often near the coast.
coast
rules for the flying gurnard
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 the angler and has no venom gland, but the dorsal spines call for care when holding it. Hold it by the body, away from the pectoral fins, and release it quickly.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01122, b = 2.95; 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: Dactylopterus volitans (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Dactylopterus volitansNames 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.