cortez angelfish
Pomacanthus zonipectus
Shallow-reef angelfish of the eastern Pacific, from Mexico to Peru. It is taken in subsistence fishing and in the aquarium trade.
Also called: peixe-anjo-de-Cortés, ángel de Cortés, pez ángel, Cortez angelfish
- maximum
- 46 cm
- depth
- 6–12 m
who is the cortez angelfish
Angelfish of the family Pomacanthidae, with a deep, laterally compressed body, reaching 46 cm. Common size 26 cm. It lives on shallow reefs, from 6 to 12 m, from the Gulf of California to Peru, and does not migrate. It feeds by day, mostly on sponges, and also on tunicates, algae, bryozoans and hydroids. Adults move in pairs over the reef, and juveniles are territorial and solitary. Spawning happens from mid-summer to early autumn. It is taken in the aquarium trade and in subsistence 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 cortez angelfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Adults form fixed, monogamous pairs that occupy the same area of the reef, without exclusive territory.
identification
Deep-bodied, laterally compressed and disc-shaped, with a small mouth and a strong spine at the corner of the cheek, traits of angelfishes. Adults stay in fixed pairs on the reef, and juveniles are solitary and territorial. It reaches 46 cm, versus 35.6 cm for the king angelfish (Holacanthus passer), which shares the reef with it and sometimes joins it in mixed groups.
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
Eastern Pacific, on shallow reefs of Latin America, from the Gulf of California in Mexico to Peru, including Colombia, Central America and Ecuador.
Habitat: Shallow reefs, 6 to 12 m, with sponges and algae.
when to fish
best time of day
Daytime. Feeds during the day, over the reef substrate.
rules for the cortez angelfish
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.
Harmless to people, but it has a strong spine on the cheek: hold it with wet hands and release it quickly, with the fish in the water.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.02818, b = 2.89; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa pelo gênero e formato do corpo)). 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: Pomacanthus zonipectus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Pomacanthus zonipectusNames by country and language.
