blackline tilefish
Caulolatilus cyanops
Tilefish from Caribbean and northern South American bottoms, common between 150 and 250 m. Its flesh is highly prized and sold fresh at market.
Also called: peixe-batata-de-lista-negra, tumba, blanquilla, blackline tilefish
- maximum
- 60 cm
- record/max.
- 11.0 kg
- depth
- 150–250 m
who is the blackline tilefish
Latilid fish from sandy and muddy bottoms, which can dig burrows in the sediment. It occurs in the western Atlantic, from North Carolina and Florida (USA) to Bermuda, Cuba, Yucatán (Mexico), Puerto Rico, the Lesser Antilles, Nicaragua, Colombia and Venezuela, usually between 150 and 250 m but can reach 495 m. It reaches 60 cm and up to 11 kg. It feeds on invertebrates and small fish. It is oviparous, and its flesh is highly prized and sold fresh. Because it lives deep, it is targeted by bottom boat fishing as well as commercial 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 blackline tilefish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Elongated bottom fish of the family Latilidae, living at depths between 150 and 250 m. The Spanish popular names (blanquillo raya negra and paleta lista negra) refer to a dark stripe on the body, a trait that helps identify it. In the Gulf of Mexico and Florida there is also Caulolatilus microps, which is gray and mostly caught between 75 and 200 m.
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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
In Latin America it occurs in the Caribbean and northern South America, in countries such as Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela and Colombia. Outside the region it ranges from North Carolina to Bermuda.
Habitat: Sandy and muddy bottoms, usually between 150 and 250 m deep.
rules for the blackline 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 lives at depth, so bringing it up often causes barotrauma. If released, do it carefully and without delay.
in the kitchen
Highly prized flesh, sold fresh at market.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00832, b = 3.11; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). 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: Caulolatilus cyanops (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 cyanopsNames by country and language.
