pacific graysby
Cephalopholis panamensis
Small graysby from coral reefs and rocky shores of the eastern Pacific, shy and discreet. Considered a line fish, it turns up now and then in sport fishing.
- maximum
- 39 cm
how to recognize it
Oval cross-section body, with pectoral fins longer than the pelvic fins and a rounded caudal fin. The scales on the flanks are very rough. The membranes between the front dorsal spines are notched. Compare with the Creole-fish (Cephalopholis colonus), from the same sea, which has a slimmer body and smaller head.
Also called: jabu-panamenho, jabu, cabrilla panameña, Pacific graysby
don't confuse with:
We don't have tips on season, bait or technique for this species yet.
where found
open on the large mapWhere to look: Coral reefs and rocky shores, usually around 30 m.
Lives in the eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California to Ecuador, including the Galapagos Islands and the Central American coast.
rules for the pacific graysby
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.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
estimated weight
—
how we calculate
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01514, b = 3.07; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
more about the pacific graysby
The Panamic graysby belongs to the family Epinephelidae and reaches 39 cm. It lives on coral reefs and rocky shores of the eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, usually around 30 m deep. It is a shy, discreet fish that feeds on fish and crustaceans and can live at least 25 years. In sport fishing it is considered a line fish and turns up now and then.
Family: Epinephelidae · predator
fun facts
- It was recently confirmed to be a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning it is born female and can change into male.
similar species
sources and references (2)
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: Cephalopholis panamensis (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Cephalopholis panamensisNames by country and language.