inshore sand perch
Diplectrum pacificum
Small michole (sand perch) of sand bottoms near the coast, from Mexico to Peru, reaching 34 cm. It enters commercial fishing.
Also called: michole-costeiro, serrano cabaicucho, guabina de piedra, inshore sand perch
- maximum
- 34 cm
- depth
- 15–30 m
who is the inshore sand perch
Fish of the family Serranidae. It reaches 34 cm. It lives on sand and sand-mud bottoms near the coast, mostly between 15 and 30 m, and can go down to 90 m. Juveniles and small adults stay on fine sand near the coast. It ranges from the Gulf of California and southern Baja California to Peru, through Central America, Colombia and Ecuador. It feeds on fish and crustaceans. It is a simultaneous hermaphrodite, meaning it has both sexes at the same time. It enters commercial fishing.
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 inshore sand perch.
fun facts
- It can live 6 years, reaching 20 cm standard length.
identification
Elongated body of a serranid, much smaller than the sea basses, as it reaches 34 cm. It lives on sand and sand-mud near the coast, in shallow water, which sets it apart from reef fishes. Compare it with the spotted sea bass, which also lives on sand and mud bottoms but reaches 60 cm.
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
Lives in the eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California and Baja California to Peru. In Latin America, it occurs from Mexico to Peru, through Central America, Colombia and Ecuador.
Habitat: Sand and mud bottom near the coast, mostly from 15 to 30 m, and may reach 90 m.
rules for the inshore sand perch
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.
No danger to anglers. When releasing it, remove the hook carefully.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00813, b = 3.17; 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: Diplectrum pacificum (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Diplectrum pacificumNames by country and language.