longfinned bullseye
Cookeolus japonicus
A bigeye of hard, deep bottoms, common between 165 and 200 m. It has commercial fishing and is considered a sport fish.
Also called: olho-de-cão-de-nadadeira-longa, catalufa de aleta larga, catalufa, longfinned bullseye
- maximum
- 69 cm
- record/max.
- 5.0 kg
- depth
- 165–200 m
who is the longfinned bullseye
The longfin bigeye is a fish of the family Priacanthidae, with large eyes and a laterally compressed body, reaching 69 cm and up to 5 kg. It lives on hard bottoms with holes and rock ledges, generally between 165 and 200 m, and can go down to 400 m, in places with many sponges and soft coral. It lives alone and feeds on pelagic crustaceans. As a juvenile it is pelagic, and adults stay near the bottom. It has commercial fishing, is considered a sport fish and enters the aquarium trade.
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 longfinned bullseye; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- It usually lives alone, in holes and rock ledges.
- It is often confused with the redeye bigeye.
identification
It has large eyes, typical of the family, and a laterally compressed body. The last dorsal spine is quite long, twice the length of the second, and that is the best sign for recognizing it. It lives on deeper bottoms than the redeye bigeye, which is usually found between 3 and 35 m and has a pinkish silver body, sometimes speckled with red.
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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
It occurs in tropical and subtropical seas of several oceans. In the western Atlantic, it ranges from Nova Scotia (Canada) and New Jersey (USA) to, probably, Argentina. In Latin America it is found from Mexico to Argentina, including Brazil.
Habitat: Hard bottoms with holes and rock ledges, generally 165 to 200 m and down to 400 m.
coast
rules for the longfinned bullseye
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 is harmless, but has spines in its fins, so handle it with care. Since it lives on the bottom, it suffers barotrauma when brought up: if you are going to release it, return it to the bottom carefully, preferably with a descender.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.02042, b = 2.89; 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: Cookeolus japonicus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Cookeolus japonicusNames 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.
