Lopholatilus villarii
Deep-bottom fish of the Southeast and South, with a fleshy crest on the nape. Vulnerable: retention only from 40 cm, and fleet closed season in September and October.
Also called: peixe-batata, batata, batata-do-alto
The peixe-batata is a latilid (tilefish family) of deep waters, living on mud and sand bottoms of the outer shelf and slope, from 140 to 500 m, from Rio de Janeiro to Argentina. It is caught mainly by longline and bottom line, often together with the snowy grouper, and fishing has reduced its populations. It is on the national list as Vulnerable, and Portaria Interministerial 40/2018 allows catching and keeping only specimens from 40 cm, with a closed season for the fleet from September 1 to October 31 between 100 and 600 m in the Southeast and South. In recreational fishing it appears in very deep bottom trips. Because of the depth, it almost always comes up with barotrauma.
Elongated, robust body, large rounded head with a fleshy crest on the nape, in front of the dorsal fin, typical of the genus. Grayish to brown back and pale belly. Long, continuous dorsal fin and long anal fin. Differs from the namorado by the crest on the nape and the rounded head profile.
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.
From Rio de Janeiro to Rio Grande do Sul, continuing to Uruguay and Argentina, on the outer shelf and slope.
Habitat: Mud and sand bottoms of the outer shelf and upper slope, 140 to 500 m.
coast
states
Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul
Fished all year, respecting the fleet's closed season in September and October.
Any time. At great depth, the time of day matters little.
Lives in cold bottom water.
A cold front brings rough seas.
No significant effect.
No effect at depth.
Does not depend on water level.
Not very sensitive.
Strong wind prevents keeping the line vertical.
Strong current requires a very heavy sinker.
150 to 400 m.
natural baits
accessories
Measure before you decide: below 40 cm, release it with a descending device.
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: Recovery plan (Portaria MMA 227/2018) with rules in PI SG-PR/MMA 40/2018, under review by Portaria 1.666/2026 (art. 11). Global assessment: VU (IUCN, 2024). IN MMA 53/2005 already set 40 cm from ES to RS.
Catch, retention, transport, and sale are allowed only for specimens with a total length of 40 cm or more. Outside the limits of the ordinance, directed fishing is prohibited, and fish caught by chance must be released alive or discarded on the spot, with a record.
Source: Portaria Interministerial SG-PR/MMA nº 40/2018, arts. 2º and 4º, subparagraph b
From September 1 to October 31, fishing between 100 and 600 m depth is prohibited on the Southeast and South coast for the fishing modes listed in the ordinance (INI MPA/MMA 10/2011). On-board retention and landing of peixe-batata are tolerated only until September 5.
Source: Portaria Interministerial SG-PR/MMA nº 40/2018, art. 6º
The species remains Vulnerable on the 2026 list. Its use depends on the recovery plan (Portaria MMA 227/2018) and the rules of PI 40/2018. Portaria GM/MMA 1.666/2026 ordered a review of the plans for species already on the list, and the earlier rules remain in force during the review. Confirm before keeping any fish.
Source: Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.666/2026, art. 11; PI SG-PR/MMA nº 40/2018, art. 1º
It comes from hundreds of meters: without a descending device, release rarely works. If you are going to release it, return it to the bottom with a descending device.
White, soft flesh. May only be kept from 40 cm.
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00708, b = 3.14; FishBase (estimativa bayesiana, comprimento total)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
—
The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.
Your location is saved only on this device and feeds the forecast, the map and the "today" on the home page.
