leopard toadfish
Opsanus pardus
Toadfish of deeper rocky reefs farther from the coast, in the Gulf of Mexico and Cuba. It has sport-fishing interest and is not dangerous.
Also called: peixe-sapo-leopardo, peixe-sapo, sapo leopardo, leopard toadfish
- maximum
- 38 cm
who is the leopard toadfish
The leopard toadfish belongs to the family Batrachoididae (toadfishes) and reaches 38 cm. It lives away from the coast, on deeper rocky reefs, in the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba and Mexico. It is a bottom fish, tied to rocky reefs, and considered of sport-fishing interest, so it occasionally shows up on the line of anglers fishing those bottom reefs. It is not dangerous to anglers, but it is best released carefully.
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 leopard toadfish.
identification
Robust-bodied fish with a broad, flat head and a large mouth, traits common to toadfishes. The species name, leopardo (leopard), refers to the pattern of spots on the body. It lives on deeper rocky reefs farther from the coast, in the Gulf of Mexico, and not in shallow, sheltered waters like other toadfishes.
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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 Gulf of Mexico, Cuba and Mexico, on rocky reef bottoms away from the coast.
Habitat: Rocky reef bottoms, away from the coast, in deeper waters.
rules for the leopard 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.
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. Since it lives on reef bottoms, it can suffer from the rapid pressure change when brought up. Release it carefully.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00468, b = 3.12; 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: Opsanus pardus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Opsanus pardusNames by country and language.