spotfin flounder
Cyclopsetta fimbriata
A soft-bottom flounder associated with reefs, 20 to 230 m deep, ranging from Canada to São Paulo. It is seldom caught on rod and reel and has a small commercial fishery.
Also called: linguado-de-nadadeira-manchada, linguado, spotfin flounder, arepa de cola manchada, lenguado aleta sucia
- maximum
- 33 cm
- depth
- 20–230 m
who is the spotfin flounder
A flounder of the family Cyclopsettidae, with a short, tall, flattened body, living on soft continental shelf bottoms between 20 and 230 m, associated with reefs. It reaches 33 cm, and the common size is about 25 cm. It occurs in the western Atlantic, from Canada to North Carolina and, farther south, to São Paulo in Brazil, including the Caribbean and the Guianas. It forms pairs, and females spawn several times over a long period. It has small commercial fishing, and the fish is sold fresh.
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 spotfin flounder; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
A flattened flounder with a short, tall body, both eyes on the same side, and long dorsal and anal fins made only of soft rays. Popular names in Colombia and Mexico refer to a spotted tail and a dirty fin, a sign of spots on the fins. It lives deeper, 20 to 230 m, than Etropus crossotus and Citharichthys spilopterus, which are found in estuaries and shallow waters.
Loading the next 7 days…
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 it occurs in Brazil as far as São Paulo, Colombia, Cuba, Venezuela and the Guianas, on soft shelf bottoms.
Habitat: Soft shelf bottoms, associated with reefs, 20 to 230 m.
coast
rules for the spotfin flounder
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: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
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. Since it comes from deeper water, it suffers barotrauma if it rises quickly, so release it promptly and as deep as possible.
in the kitchen
It goes to fresh markets, in small-scale commercial fishing.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00871, b = 3.13; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
—
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: Cyclopsetta fimbriata (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Cyclopsetta fimbriataNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
