pacific harvestfish
Peprilus medius
Butterfish of the Pacific coast, from Mexico to Peru, reaching 31.6 cm. It is mainly taken in commercial fishing.
Also called: peixe-manteiga-do-pacífico, palometa, gallinazo, Pacific harvestfish
- maximum
- 32 cm
- record/max.
- 0.4 kg
- depth
- 10–60 m
who is the pacific harvestfish
The family Stromateidae includes the butterfishes, which have a short, deep, laterally compressed body. This species reaches 31.6 cm and weighs up to 428 g. It occurs in the eastern Pacific, from Mexico to Peru, including the Galápagos and the Central American countries. It lives from 10 to 60 m, in coastal waters, from near the surface to the bottom of the continental shelf. It is mainly taken in commercial fishing, and anglers on this coast may catch it by chance.
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 pacific harvestfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Reaches 31.6 cm, but the largest recorded weight is 428 g.
identification
Short, deep, laterally compressed body, silvery like other butterfishes, with a small head and no pelvic fins. It lives in coastal waters, from near the surface to the shelf bottom, from 10 to 60 m. Along the same coast there are other butterfishes of the genus Peprilus, similar in shape.
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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
Occurs in the eastern Pacific, from Mexico to Peru, including the Galápagos, in coastal waters and on the shelf edge. There are no records off the Brazilian coast.
Habitat: Coastal waters from 10 to 60 m, from near the surface to the shelf edge.
rules for the pacific harvestfish
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.
No danger to anglers. Release it with minimal handling.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01288, b = 2.99; 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
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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: Peprilus medius (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Peprilus mediusNames by country and language.
