longjaw leatherjacket
Oligoplites altus
Leatherjack of coastal waters in the eastern Pacific, with venomous spines on the dorsal and anal fins. It enters estuaries and is commercially caught.
Also called: guaivira-de-maxila-longa, zapatero pelón, piña bocona, pajarito, longjaw leatherjacket
- maximum
- 56 cm
- record/max.
- 1.6 kg
who is the longjaw leatherjacket
The longjaw leatherjack belongs to the family Carangidae, the same as the jacks. It has an elongated, fairly deep and laterally compressed body, with the tip of the maxilla extending past the rear edge of the eye. It reaches 56 cm and 1.6 kg, and its common size is 30 cm. It lives in coastal waters, near the bottom and in midwater, from Mexico to Peru, and enters estuaries. It is commercially caught, and the flesh is usually sold fresh, salted or dried. The spines of the dorsal and anal fins have venom glands that cause painful wounds.
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 longjaw leatherjacket; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Elongated body, fairly deep and laterally compressed, gray or brown on the back, with silvery flanks and belly and yellowish reflections. The scales are small, needle-shaped and embedded in the skin, and the teeth on the maxilla are small. The rear tip of the maxilla passes the rear edge of the eye, which sets it apart from the shortjaw leatherjack (Oligoplites refulgens), in which it reaches only to the middle 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 to Peru, in coastal waters and estuaries.
Habitat: Coastal waters, near the bottom and in midwater, with entry into estuaries.
rules for the longjaw 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 = 0.00955, 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 altus (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 altusNames by country and language.
