false halfbeak
Oxyporhamphus similis
A small fish of the tropical Atlantic coastal waters, a relative of the needlefishes, of little interest to anglers.
Also called: falsa-agulha, falsa agujeta, escribano volador, false halfbeak
- maximum
- 18 cm
who is the false halfbeak
A fish of the family Hemiramphidae, reaching 18 cm. It occurs in the Atlantic: on the west coast of Africa, from Cape Verde to Angola, and on the west side, from North Carolina to Brazil, including Cuba. In Brazil it has been recorded south of Santos (SP). It lives in tropical coastal waters, within the 24 °C isotherm. It has recorded commercial use, but it is a small fish and rarely sought by anglers. It belongs to the group of needlefishes and halfbeaks and is harmless to handle.
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 false halfbeak; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
A small, slender fish of tropical coastal waters, a relative of the needlefishes. Its popular name, false needlefish, already suggests it looks like needlefishes without being the same. For anglers, the most practical clue is size: it reaches 18 cm, much smaller than the white halfbeak (Hyporhamphus unifasciatus), which reaches 29.5 cm, and the flying halfbeak (Euleptorhamphus velox), up to 61 cm. It lives within the 24 °C isotherm.
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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
Atlantic, from the west coast of Africa, from Cape Verde to Angola, and on the west side, from North Carolina to Brazil, including Cuba. In Brazil it is recorded south of Santos (SP) and along the Northeast coast.
Habitat: Tropical coastal waters, within the 24 °C isotherm.
coast
rules for the false halfbeak
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.
No dangerous spines or venom. It is small and delicate, so release it carefully.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00324, b = 3.08; 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: Oxyporhamphus similis (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Oxyporhamphus similisNames 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.
