finescale menhaden
Brevoortia gunteri
Menhaden of coastal and bay schools in the Gulf of Mexico, with a very intense commercial fishery. It is not a Brazilian species.
Also called: savelha-de-escamas-finas, sardina escamitas, finescale menhaden
- maximum
- 30 cm
- depth
- 0–50 m
who is the finescale menhaden
Fish of the family Alosidae, up to 30 cm. It forms schools in coastal waters and bays, possibly tolerating salinity changes. It feeds on plankton, like other menhadens. It occurs from Louisiana to the Gulf of Campeche, in Mexico, including the Yucatán Peninsula, with no reliable Caribbean records. The visible scutes on the belly and the small scales are traits of the species. It has a very intense commercial fishery in the Gulf. It does not occur in Brazil: it is a Gulf of Mexico species.
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 finescale menhaden; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- It possibly tolerates large salinity changes, which is why it also shows up in bays.
identification
Elongated, compressed silvery body, with visible scutes on the belly and numerous small scales on the back and above the base of the anal fin. It has a dark spot behind the gill opening and no spot on the flank, which sets it apart from the Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus). Fins yellowish to dark, and the pelvic fin has a straight, oblique rear edge, with the inner rays shorter than the outer ones.
Loading the next 7 days…
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
In Mexico, it occurs in the Gulf, from Louisiana to the Gulf of Campeche and the Yucatán Peninsula, in coastal waters and bays.
Habitat: Coastal waters and shallow bays of the Gulf of Mexico, from 0 to 50 m deep.
rules for the finescale menhaden
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.
Harmless to anglers, with no dangerous spines or teeth.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00631, b = 3.02; 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: Brevoortia gunteri (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Brevoortia gunteriNames by country and language.
