grey tilefish
Caulolatilus microps
Tilefish from mud and gravel bottoms in the southeastern United States and Mexico, between 30 and 162 m. It is sold fresh and is of interest to both sport and commercial fishing.
Also called: peixe-batata-cinza, blanquillo lucio, grey tilefish
- maximum
- 90 cm
- record/max.
- 7.0 kg
- depth
- 30–162 m
who is the grey tilefish
A tilefish of the family Latilidae, living on mud and gravel bottoms between 30 and 162 m, mostly caught between 75 and 200 m. It reaches 90 cm and up to 7 kg. It ranges from North Carolina to southern Florida, in the United States, and into Mexico, and also in the northern and probably eastern Gulf of Mexico. It mainly feeds on bottom invertebrates, such as crustaceans, mollusks, polychaetes and brittle stars (serpent stars), as well as fish. It is sold fresh and appears in both commercial and sport 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 grey tilefish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Spindle-shaped fish of normal body shape, from the family Latilidae, with the gray color that gives the species its name. It reaches 90 cm. It lives on mud and gravel bottoms, from 30 to 162 m, and is mostly caught between 75 and 200 m, a bit shallower than Caulolatilus cyanops, which is common between 150 and 250 m. This helps tell them apart on the bottom.
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 Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico, on mud and gravel bottoms. Outside the region it ranges from North Carolina to southern Florida, in the United States.
Habitat: Mud and gravel bottoms, 30 to 162 m deep.
rules for the grey tilefish
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.
It has no dangerous spines, but it lives in deep water and bringing it up causes barotrauma. If released, do it carefully.
in the kitchen
It is sold fresh.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00646, b = 3.1; 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
—
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: Caulolatilus microps (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Caulolatilus micropsNames by country and language.
