blackeye goby
Rhinogobiops nicholsii
Small goby of sandy bottoms near rocks, in the Mexican Pacific. Males guard the eggs in nests under the rocks.
Also called: gobião-olho-preto, gobião, gobio triste, Blackeye goby
- maximum
- 15 cm
- depth
- 0–106 m
who is the blackeye goby
The blackeye goby belongs to the family Gobiidae and reaches 15 cm. It lives in the eastern Pacific, from British Columbia, Canada, to central Baja California, Mexico, on sand bottoms near rocks, from the intertidal zone down to 106 m. It has a spindle-shaped body and hides among rocks or in holes when approached. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite: born female, it can change into male, and forms groups with one male and several smaller females. Spawning takes place from April to October, and the male guards the eggs in the nest. It has commercial use, including for aquariums.
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 blackeye goby.
fun facts
- The change of sex, from female to male, is completed in less than 5 months.
identification
Spindle-shaped body with a rounded caudal fin. During spawning, adult males show a black ventral disc, which they raise from the bottom to attract females. They live hidden in burrows and among rocks, but juveniles may be found far from shore, among plankton. No distinctive color or mark is recorded, so habitat helps: sandy bottom near rocks, from the intertidal zone down to 106 m.
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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, only in Mexico, as far as central Baja California. The species ranges from British Columbia, Canada.
Habitat: Sandy bottom near rocks, from the intertidal zone down to 106 m.
rules for the blackeye goby
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.
It poses no danger to anglers. Because it is small, it can be released carefully.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01023, b = 3.01; 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: Rhinogobiops nicholsii (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Rhinogobiops nicholsiiNames by country and language.