shortjaw leatherjacket
Oligoplites refulgens
Leatherjack of the eastern Pacific, with an elongated, laterally compressed body and venomous spines on the dorsal and anal fins. It lives in coastal waters and may enter estuaries.
Also called: guaivira-de-maxila-curta, chaqueta de cuero, piña flaca, sardina piña, shortjaw leatherjacket
- maximum
- 28 cm
- record/max.
- 0.1 kg
who is the shortjaw leatherjacket
The shortjaw leatherjack belongs to the family Carangidae, the same as the jacks. It has an elongated, very laterally compressed body and small teeth in the mouth. It reaches 28 cm total length, and its common size is 20 cm. It lives in coastal waters of the eastern Pacific, from Mexico to Ecuador, with a record also at Paita, Peru, and it can temporarily enter estuaries because it tolerates low salinity. It enters small-scale commercial fishing. The spines of the dorsal and anal fins are connected to venom glands and cause painful wounds, so handling requires care.
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 shortjaw leatherjacket; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Elongated, very laterally compressed body, dark gray on the back and silvery on the flanks and belly, with yellowish reflections. The dorsal and anal fins are charcoal gray, the pectorals and caudal are yellow and the pelvic fins are white. The rear tip of the maxilla reaches only to the middle of the eye, and the teeth are small. To tell it apart from the longjaw leatherjack (Oligoplites altus), check the maxilla: in that species the tip extends past the rear edge of the eye.
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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
Eastern Pacific of Latin America, from Mexico and Central America to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, in coastal waters and estuaries.
Habitat: Shallow coastal waters, in midwater, that may enter estuaries.
rules for the shortjaw leatherjacket
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.
The spines of the dorsal and anal fins carry venom and cause painful wounds. Handle it with a cloth or glove, and remove the hook carefully so you do not get stuck.
in the kitchen
It is usually sold fresh, salted or dried.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00708, b = 2.94; 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: Oligoplites refulgens (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Oligoplites refulgensNames by country and language.
