pacuma toadfish
Batrachoides surinamensis
Toadfish of muddy bottoms in shallow brackish waters, from the North to the Northeast of Brazil. It is used by commercial fishing and sold fresh.
Also called: peixe-sapo-do-suriname, peixe-sapo, sapo guayanés, pacuma toadfish
- maximum
- 57 cm
- record/max.
- 2.3 kg
- depth
- 1–36 m
who is the pacuma toadfish
The Surinam toadfish belongs to the family Batrachoididae (toadfishes) and reaches 57 cm and 2.3 kg. It lives in shallow, warm, often brackish waters, on sand and mud bottoms, where it stays nearly still and very well camouflaged. It feeds on crabs, shrimp, small mollusks and fish. Females mature at about 20 cm and can release 400 to 500 small eggs. In Brazil, the species occurs from the North to Bahia, and commercial fishing usually sells it fresh.
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 pacuma toadfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- It is not very active and stays still on the bottom, camouflaged in sand and mud.
identification
Brown body with black spots and saddle-shaped marks. The head has scales up to the middle of the eye, and the area between the eyes is smooth, without filaments. It has firm spines on the dorsal fin and on the operculum, the gill cover. It differs from Batrachoides manglae, which has fine filaments on the head, without scales there, and lives in mangrove lagoons.
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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
It occurs from Honduras and Venezuela to Bahia, in shallow, brackish waters of the Caribbean, Central America and the Guianas. In Brazil, it ranges from the North to the Northeast.
Habitat: Sand and mud bottoms of shallow, warm, brackish waters, in estuaries and lagoons.
coast
rules for the pacuma toadfish
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: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
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.
Not dangerous to anglers, but it has firm spines on the dorsal fin and the operculum, so hold it carefully.
in the kitchen
Sold fresh at market.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00759, b = 3.16; 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: Batrachoides surinamensis (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Batrachoides surinamensisNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
