Deep-bodied, gray grouper-type fish with dark bars, found on the rocky and coral reefs of the eastern Pacific, from southern California to Peru and the oceanic islands. Fished on the bottom from boats with natural bait and jigs, but much of its range is a protected area.
Also called: garoupa-de-couro, leather bass, cabrilla de cuero, mero cuero
Leather bass of the eastern Pacific, from southern California (USA) to Peru, including the Gulf of California and the oceanic islands (Revillagigedo, Coco, Clipperton and Galápagos). Lives on rocky and coral reefs, generally at 20 to 40 m and down to about 90 m, and juveniles shelter among the long spines of the sea urchins Centrostephanus and Diadema. Adults are daytime predators of bottom fish and, at times, crustaceans and octopus. They often use bottom-grubbing herbivorous fish as moving cover, and follow hunting morays to catch prey that flees its hiding places. It reaches about 1 m and at least 12.5 kg. It has a small commercial fishery and is listed as a sport fish, but it is rarely caught: it is fished on the bottom from boats over rocks and patches. In Revillagigedo (Mexico) and Cocos Island (Costa Rica), where it occurs, fishing is prohibited.
fun facts
The juvenile is black with many narrow white bars and a white tail with black spots, so different from the adult that it looks like another species.
Adults use herbivorous fish and morays as cover: they follow them to catch prey that flees.
Juveniles hide among the long spines of the sea urchins Centrostephanus and Diadema.
The genus name, Dermatolepis, means skin scale: the scales are smooth and almost covered by skin.
how to recognize it
identification
Deep, strongly compressed body, tallest at the origin of the dorsal fin; steep, oblique forehead profile, snout much longer than the eye, short pectoral fins, a caudal fin with a straight to rounded edge, and smooth scales, almost covered by skin. Grayish-brown color, with alternating bars from dark gray to nearly black and from white to light gray, covered with pale spots; fin edges narrowly yellow. Juveniles are black, with many narrow white bars and a white tail with black spots. STRI cites Cephalopholis panamensis as the similar species.
how leather bass fishing looks
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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.
Does not occur in Brazil. Eastern Pacific: from southern California (USA) to Peru, with the Gulf of California and the oceanic islands (Revillagigedo, Coco, Clipperton and Galápagos).
Habitat: Rocky and coral reefs at 20 to 40 m, deeper around the oceanic islands; juveniles among the spines of sea urchins.
calendar and clock
when to fish
best season
time of yearbest: Jun–Sep
JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
There is no well-defined season: the species lives on reefs all year. Warm, clear water in summer and early autumn usually gives the best conditions at the oceanic islands, but check the area's rules before fishing.
best time of day
Daytime. Daytime predator: hunts by day, near the rocks, and becomes more active when other fish stir up the bottom. At night it tends to shelter.
weather, water and behavior
what affects the leather bass
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.
cold and cold fronts
Cold upwelling water drives fish off the shallow reefs.
atmospheric pressure
Little direct effect; a churned-up sea after a front hinders bottom fishing.
moon
Small effect.
rain
Little effect on the bottom.
water level
Not applicable at sea.
noise
A boat banging on the rocks and an engine over the spot scare the fish; approach calmly and anchor before the rock.
wind
Strong wind makes it hard to keep the boat over the rock.
tide
Moderate current along the rocks moves food and keeps the fish active.
depth
From 20 to 40 m over rocky and coral reefs; deeper around the oceanic islands.
6000 to 8000 spinning reel or small conventional reel with strong drag
line
braid 40 to 65 lb
leader
fluorocarbon 60 to 100 lb, 1 to 1.5 m
hook
circle 5/0 to 8/0
lures
metal jig 100 to 200 g
large jig head with shad
slow jig
natural baits
small fish, whole or in fillet
lula
octopus pieces
accessories
descender (fish descender)
sinker 150 to 300 g
alicate
luva
tip from an angler
Fish over rocks at 20 to 40 m and keep the fish away from its den right at the hookset: the leather bass bolts for its hole as soon as it feels the hook. Before heading out, check that the area is not a park or reserve.
what the law says
rules for the leather bass
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: Of little concern globally. Part of the species' range lies in protected areas of the oceanic islands (Revillagigedo, Cocos), and we did not check national assessments in the countries on the entry.
Mexico: up to 5 per species and 10 saltwater fish per day
5 specimens of the species per angler per day, within the limit of 10 saltwater fish
In federal waters of Mexico, recreational sport fishing allows each angler to keep up to 10 marine fish per day, no more than 5 of the same species. The garoupa-de-couro (leather bass) is not among the species reserved for sport fishing (marlins, sailfish, swordfish, tarpon (sábalo), roosterfish and dorado, up to 50 nautical miles from shore, item 0.3 of the standard) and has no quota of its own. Fish over the quota must go back alive, and sport-caught fish may not be sold. Anyone fishing from a boat needs an individual permit; from shore, no.
Mexico: fishing prohibited in Revillagigedo National Park
Fishing in any mode is prohibited throughout the park
The decree that created Revillagigedo National Park, in the Mexican Pacific, prohibits fishing of any kind throughout the park, without distinguishing commercial from sport fishing. Catching marine resources is allowed only for scientific research or to feed park staff. NOM-017 also bans sport fishing in protected natural areas (item 4.10).
Costa Rica: sport fishing prohibited in national parks (Cocos Island)
Prohibited in national parks, natural monuments and biological reserves
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Law (Law 8436) prohibits commercial and sport fishing in national parks, natural monuments and biological reserves. Cocos Island, where this species occurs, is a national park. Anyone who authorizes or carries out fishing in these areas faces a fine of twenty to sixty base salaries and loses the license (art. 153).
Colombia: sport fishing has ceased to exist as a category; tourist fishing applies (Law 2501/2025)
Transition period: confirm with AUNAP before fishingconfirm with the agency
In Judgment C-148 of Apr 27, 2022, the Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional the rules that provided for sport fishing, with effects postponed by one year. Law 2501, enacted on Jul 28, 2025, created the tourist fishing category, and the rules (gear, quantities, minimum sizes, methods, zones and seasons) depend on regulations from the Ministry of Agriculture with AUNAP. We have not confirmed whether the decrees have been issued: check with AUNAP and use a licensed tourism operator before fishing or keeping any fish.
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.
A bottom fish can rise with an inflated swim bladder: use a descender to return it to depth. Don't puncture the bladder. Keep the fish in the water as long as possible and release those over the bag limit.
in the kitchen
White, firm flesh, like the other groupers; commercial fishing is small. Good grilled, baked or in ceviche.
calculator
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01122, b = 3.04; 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
The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.
scientificFishBase: Dermatolepis dermatolepis (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight relationship, depth, habitat, distribution, biology and IUCN status. Page checked Oct 13, 2026. The common size range in the entry is an editorial estimate, since FishBase gives no common length. STRI cites a depth of 5 to 90 m; the entry keeps FishBase's usual range.
officialDOF: Modificação da NOM-017-PESC-1994, para regular a pesca deportivo-recreativa em águas de jurisdição federal do México (publicada em 25/11/2013)Reserves species for sport fishing (item 0.3), permits (4.3 and 4.14), rods and hooks (4.6), bait (4.7), chumming in tournaments (4.8), daily limits at sea (4.9.1) and in fresh water (4.9.2), catch and release (4.9.5), closed zones, seasons and protected areas (4.10), a ban on selling the catch (4.11) and filleting (4.12). Text checked on Oct 13, 2026; the DOF records publication on Nov 25, 2013 and signature on Oct 14, 2013. We found no specific Conapesca federal closed season for this species.
officialCosta Rica: Ley 8436, Ley de Pesca y AcuiculturaText read in the FAOLEX copy: art. 9 (prohibits commercial and sport fishing in national parks, natural monuments and biological reserves) and art. 153 (fine and license cancellation).
pressAgenda del Mar: Pesca de turismo, qué se aprobó y qué falta (Lei 2501 de 2025)Reports the enactment of Law 2501 on Jul 28, 2025 and the regulatory deadlines (six months for tourism and one year for zones, species, methods and seasons). We could not open the official text of the law or confirm whether the decrees have been issued.
