black cusk-eel
Genypterus maculatus
Conger of rocky shelf and upper slope bottoms, from Peru to northern Chile, with a record also in Ecuador. It is commercially fished.
Also called: congro-negro, congrio negro, congrio mulato, black cusk-eel
- maximum
- 100 cm
who is the black cusk-eel
The black cusk-eel is an elongated fish of the family Ophidiidae, with a demersal habit, meaning it lives on or near the bottom. It occurs on rocky areas of the shelf and the upper continental slope, in the southeastern Pacific, from Peru to northern Chile, with a record also in Ecuador. It reaches 100 cm in length, and the common size is 50 cm. It is commercially fished, and there is no record of danger to people. Its range overlaps with that of the red cusk-eel in southern Peru and northern Chile.
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 black cusk-eel; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- The eggs are pelagic and float in a gelatinous mass.
identification
Elongated, dark body, as the name indicates. Like the other congers of the family, it has long dorsal and anal fins, which join the tail. The most similar species on the same coast is the red cusk-eel (Genypterus chilensis), reddish, which occurs from southern Peru to southern Chile. The black cusk-eel is the darkest, and the one that occurs farthest north, from Peru to northern Chile.
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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 Peru to northern Chile, with a record also in Ecuador, on shelf and upper slope bottoms.
Habitat: Rocky bottoms of the continental shelf and upper slope.
rules for the black cusk-eel
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.
No record of danger to people. As it is a bottom fish, release it carefully to avoid barotrauma, and use pliers to remove the hook.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00275, b = 3.16; 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: Genypterus maculatus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Genypterus maculatusNames by country and language.
