smalltooth weakfish
Cynoscion steindachneri
Croaker of brackish waters and marshes of the northern coast of Brazil, which also enters rivers. It is an important food fish and has commercial fishing.
Also called: pescada-verdadeira, corvinata pescada, corvinata pintada, smalltooth weakfish
- maximum
- 110 cm
- depth
- 1–10 m
who is the smalltooth weakfish
The true croaker is a fish of the family Sciaenidae, with a spindle-shaped body, gray above and whitish below, reaching 110 cm. It lives mainly in brackish marshes along the coast and also enters fresh water. It stays on bottoms of 1 to 10 m. It feeds on fish and shrimp and, sometimes, plants. Like other croakers, it has a large mouth and protruding lower jaw. Spawning occurs in the open sea. It has commercial fishing and is an important food fish.
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 smalltooth weakfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- It spawns in the open sea, far from the brackish waters where it lives.
- Already tested in experimental aquaculture.
identification
Gray above and whitish below, with a dark dorsal fin. The upper part of the pectoral fins and the inside of the mouth are orange, which is what helps identify it. The pectoral fins are much shorter than the pelvic fins, the tail is gray with a dark edge, and the chin has no barbels or pores. The mouth is large and oblique, with the lower jaw protruding.
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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
Lives in the South American Atlantic, from Guyana to northern Brazil. In Latin America, it occurs in Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Trinidad and Tobago.
Habitat: Brackish marshes along the coast, 1 to 10 m, with access to rivers.
coast
rules for the smalltooth weakfish
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.
It is harmless to handle. Release the specimens you are not going to keep, without leaving them long out of the water.
in the kitchen
It is an important food fish and has commercial fishing.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00871, b = 3.06; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa pelo gênero e formato do corpo)). 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: Cynoscion steindachneri (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Cynoscion steindachneriNames 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.
