spinycheek scorpionfish
Neomerinthe hemingwayi
Deep-water scorpionfish from Mexico and Cuba, with spines that may be venomous and call for care when handling.
Also called: peixe-escorpião-de-bochecha-espinhosa, rascacio mejilla espinosa, spinycheek scorpionfish
- maximum
- 40 cm
- depth
- 45–230 m
who is the spinycheek scorpionfish
The spinycheek scorpionfish belongs to the family Scorpaenidae and has its head armed with spines, including on the cheek. It reaches 40 cm. It lives in the western Atlantic, on bottoms of 45 to 230 m, from New Jersey to southern Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. In Latin America it occurs in Mexico and Cuba. It is taken commercially. Like other scorpionfish, it is a bottom predator that stays still and waits for prey to pass. The fin spines have thick glandular tissue along the rear edge, which is believed to be venomous, so they deserve care.
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 spinycheek scorpionfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Scorpionfish with a spiny head, with spines also on the cheek, which gives the species its name. The fins have firm spines, and the rear edge of them has thick glandular tissue. It resembles other scorpionfish of the family, such as the baetinha (Scorpaena plumieri), but lives on much deeper bottoms, 45 to 230 m, while the baetinha is found between 1 and 70 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 Mexico and Cuba, on deep bottoms of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
Habitat: Bottoms of 45 to 230 m, well below shallow reefs.
rules for the spinycheek scorpionfish
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.
The spines have a gland believed to be venomous, so hold the fish with a thick cloth. Because it comes from deep water, it suffers the pressure change when brought up (barotrauma). Release it carefully, preferably while it is still in the water.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01288, b = 3.02; 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: Neomerinthe hemingwayi (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Neomerinthe hemingwayiNames by country and language.
