sharpnose seaperch
Phanerodon atripes
Surfperch that lives in coastal and open waters of the Mexican Pacific, down to 229 m. It is hardly ever fished.
Also called: perca-bicuda, mojarra picuda, sharpnose seaperch
- maximum
- 29 cm
- depth
- 0–229 m
who is the sharpnose seaperch
Surfperch of the family Embiotocidae, which lives from coastal waters out to open sea, from the surface down to 229 m. It reaches 29 cm and is viviparous: the female carries the young until birth. It occurs from Bodega Bay, in California, to central Baja California, in Mexico. It is hardly ever caught by fishers, and it has commercial use. Because it reaches deeper waters than the other surfperches of the region, it is seldom encountered by anglers fishing from shallow shores or rocky coasts.
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 sharpnose seaperch; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Among the surfperches of the region, it is the one that goes deepest, down to 229 m.
identification
Surfperch with a body similar to the rocky-shore surfperches, and the common name refers to its pointed snout. It lives in deeper waters, down to 229 m, which separates it from the rocky-shore species. On the same coast, the striped surfperch (Embiotoca lateralis) has blue stripes, and the kelp perch (Brachyistius frenatus) is much smaller, at 22 cm.
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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
From Bodega Bay, in California, to central Baja California; in Latin America, only in Mexico, in coastal and open waters.
Habitat: Sea bottom, from coastal waters down to 229 m deep.
rules for the sharpnose seaperch
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 recorded danger to anglers. Since it is rarely caught, release it promptly if it is taken.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.0195, b = 2.97; 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: Phanerodon atripes (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Phanerodon atripesNames by country and language.
