alfonsino
Beryx decadactylus
Deep-water red of the slope, on soft bottoms between 200 and 800 m, with a tall body and blood-red color. It is mainly taken by commercial fishing.
Also called: pargo-vermelho, palometa roja, red bream
- maximum
- 100 cm
- record/max.
- 4.0 kg
- depth
- 200–800 m
who is the alfonsino
The red alfonsino belongs to the family Berycidae and reaches 100 cm and 4 kg. It lives on soft slope bottoms, usually between 200 and 800 m, and the species occurs in temperate and tropical seas on several continents. Juveniles are pelagic, but adults stay on the bottom. It feeds on crustaceans, small fish and cephalopods. In Latin America it occurs in the Guianas, Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Argentina. Fishing is mostly commercial.
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 alfonsino; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- The maximum recorded age is 69 years.
- Juveniles have strong spines on the head.
identification
Tall, compressed body with a large eye. The head, iris, back and all fins are bright red, while the cheeks, gill cover and chest are white and shiny. Juveniles have strong spines on the head. Unlike the vermelho-esplendido, which has a more elongated body, this species has a taller, deeper body.
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 the Guianas, Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Argentina, on soft slope bottoms.
Habitat: Mud and muddy sand bottoms of the slope, usually between 200 and 800 m.
rules for the alfonsino
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.
Not dangerous, but since it comes from deep water it suffers barotrauma when brought up. Release it quickly and carefully.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01445, b = 3.05; 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: Beryx decadactylus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Beryx decadactylusNames by country and language.
