splendid alfonsino
Beryx splendens
Splendid alfonsino, a deep-water fish of the slope and seamounts, between 400 and 600 m, with commercial and sport interest.
Also called: vermelho-esplendido, alfonsino, splendid alfonsino
- maximum
- 70 cm
- record/max.
- 4.0 kg
- depth
- 400–600 m
who is the splendid alfonsino
The splendid alfonsino belongs to the family Berycidae and reaches 70 cm and 4 kg. It lives on the slope and seamounts, usually between 400 and 600 m, and probably moves a little off the bottom at night. Juveniles, eggs and larvae are pelagic, and adults stay closer to the bottom. It feeds on fish, crustaceans and cephalopods. In Latin America, it occurs in Chile and Uruguay. It has sport and commercial interest, and commercial fisheries usually sell it frozen.
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 splendid alfonsino; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- The maximum recorded age is 23 years.
identification
Fish with a fusiform, compressed body, large eye, and a projecting spine on the first infraorbital bone, in front of the eye. It has the reddish color typical of the family. Juveniles have an elongated second dorsal-fin ray. Unlike the red bream (Beryx decadactylus), which has a taller, deeper body, this one has a more ordinary shape.
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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
In Latin America, it occurs in Chile and Uruguay, on the slope and seamounts, between 400 and 600 m.
Habitat: Slope and seamounts, in deep waters, usually between 400 and 600 m.
rules for the splendid alfonsino
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.
It is not dangerous, but because it comes from deep bottom it suffers barotrauma on the way up. Release it carefully and quickly, without squeezing its body.
in the kitchen
Sold frozen, it can be steamed, fried, grilled, boiled or baked.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01514, b = 3.05; 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: Beryx splendens (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Beryx splendensNames by country and language.
