catalog Belonidae · predator

flat needlefish

Ablennes hians

EstuarySea

A needlefish with a body flattened from side to side, dark bars on the flank and tall sickle-shaped lobes on the dorsal and anal fins. It lives in coastal and oceanic waters, near islands, and is attracted to light at night.

Also called: zambaia-do-alto, zambaia-largo, zambaia-fino, zambaia-sardinhado, agulha-espada, carapiá, flat needlefish

forecast for flat needlefish where found

Scientific illustration of Flat needlefish

common size: 60–100 cm
maximum: 140 cm
common weight: 0.3–1.3 kg
record/max.: 4.8 kg
depth: 0–3 m
ideal water: 25–29 °C

overview

who is the flat needlefish

The zambaia-do-alto (flat needlefish) is the needlefish with the most laterally flattened body, and it has an almost worldwide distribution in warm tropical and temperate waters. In the western Atlantic it ranges from Chesapeake Bay, USA, to Rio de Janeiro. It lives in coastal and oceanic waters, closer to islands, enters estuaries and coastal rivers, and sometimes forms large schools. It mainly eats small fish. It reaches 140 cm and 4.8 kg, but FishBase notes that the beak often breaks. It is caught with the help of artificial light and sold fresh, salted, smoked or frozen; the market is limited by its green flesh. In Ceará, artisanal fishers use zambaia-do-alto, -fino, -largo and -sardinhado.

fun facts

It is caught with artificial light, which attracts it at night (FishBase).
FishBase measures length without the head and tail, because the beak often breaks.
In females only the left gonad develops; in males, the right is small or absent.

how to recognize it

identification

A very elongated body, strongly compressed from side to side, unlike other needlefish, which are rounded. Dark blue back, silvery belly, with 12 to 14 clear dark vertical bars and black spots in the middle of the body. The front of the dorsal and anal fins has tall sickle-shaped lobes, the pectorals are also sickle-shaped, and juveniles and adults show a tall black lobe at the rear of the dorsal fin. Dorsal fin with 23 to 26 rays and anal fin with 24 to 28.

how flat needlefish fishing looks

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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.

distribution

where found

open on the large map

Brazilian coast, from the North to Rio de Janeiro, according to FishBase (which cites the whole Caribbean, the Antilles and the South American coast down to Rio de Janeiro). In Latin America, FishBase's list includes Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Ecuador and Peru.

Habitat: Coastal and oceanic waters, closer to islands, at the surface and down to about 3 m; enters estuaries and coastal rivers.

coast

North CoastNortheast CoastSoutheast Coastcoastalshelf

calendar and clock

when to fish

best season

time of year

JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Present all year in tropical waters; closer to the coast and islands with the warm water of spring and summer.

best time of day

Daytime, with peaks at dawn and dusk. Hunts by day near the surface; at night it comes to lights, and fishers use lights to attract it.

weather, water and behavior

what affects the flat needlefish
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.

cold and cold fronts

Loses activity and moves away from the coast and islands when the water cools.

atmospheric pressure

Small effect.

moon

Artificial light attracts it at night; the attraction decreases under a full moon.

rain

Little effect in open sea.

water level

Not applicable at sea.

noise

Small effect.

wind

Light chop hides the line and helps the surface lure; strong wind makes the fish hard to see.

tide

Current near islands and points gathers the bait and the zambaia.

depth

Almost always in the top 3 m.

technique, gear and bait

how to fish

Surface casting Trolling Natural bait with float

rod: 6'6" to 7'6", fast action, 10 to 20 lb
spinning / baitcasting reel: spinning reel 3000 to 4000
line: braided line 15 to 25 lb
leader: fluorocarbon 30 to 50 lb or fine steel wire 20 to 30 lb, 40 cm
hook: single hook 1/0 to 2/0 or a small treble hook on the bait

lures

stickbait and popper, 8 to 12 cm
spoon, 15 to 25 g
long streamer (fly)

natural baits

small live fish or in a long strip

accessories

long-nose pliers
protective glasses

tip from an angler

Reel in fast across the surface, with short pauses. The beak is fragile: remove the hook with long-nose pliers, without twisting the jaw.

what the law says

rules for the flat needlefish

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 (Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667/2026). Outside Mexico we found no specific rule for the species.

Mexico: up to 5 per species and 10 saltwater fish per day

5 specimens of the species per angler per day, within the limit of 10 saltwater fish

In recreational sport fishing in Mexican federal waters, each angler may keep up to 10 marine fish per day, with at most 5 of the same species. The zambaia-do-alto is not among the species reserved for sport fishing and has no quota of its own. Fish over the limit are released alive, and sport-caught fish may not be sold. Anyone fishing from a boat needs the recreational fishing permits set out in the rule.

Source: Amendment to NOM-017-PESC-1994 (recreational sport fishing in federal waters of Mexico), published in the DOF on Nov 25, 2013, items 4.3, 4.9.1, 4.9.5 and 4.11 (Sagarpa/Conapesca)

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.

Hold it by the body, behind the head, with the beak away from your face. Remove the hook with long-nose pliers and release it with its head in the water. Wear protective eyewear, because the beak wounds when it jumps.

in the kitchen

FishBase says the flesh is sold fresh, salted, smoked or frozen, but the market is limited by its green color. Remove the skin and bones, bleed it and keep it on ice.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

total length (cm)

Length-weight relationship W = a·L^b (a = 0.00089, b = 3.09; 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

The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.

scientific FishBase: Ablennes hians (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight relationship, depth, habitat, distribution, biology and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026. The common size range is an editorial estimate around the 70 cm (standard length) common length reported by FishBase.
scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Ablennes hiansNames 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.
scientific Pinto, M. F.; Mourão, J. S.; Alves, R. R. N. (2015). Use of ichthyofauna by artisanal fishermen at two protected areas along the coast of Northeast Brazil. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.Common names recorded from artisanal fishers in Tamandaré (PE) and the Batoque Extractive Reserve (CE).
official NOM-017-PESC-1994 (pesca deportivo-recreativa em águas de jurisdição federal do México), modificação publicada no DOF em 25/11/2013 (Sagarpa/Conapesca)Limit of 10 marine fish per angler per day, no more than 5 of the same species (item 4.9.1), return of the excess (4.9.5) and ban on selling sport-caught fish (4.11). Text checked Oct 13, 2026. The rule sets no quota of its own for this species.

don't confuse

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Strongylura marina

A surface needlefish that lives in estuaries, mangroves and lagoons, enters fresh water and strikes small baits. Good for practicing on light tackle; the pointed beak calls for care when unhooking it.

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A large needlefish with a rounded body and a strong beak, which hunts fish at the surface of lagoons and reefs. It strikes surface lures on the cast and when trolling, and its beak wounds anyone in the path of its jump.

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Agujon needlefish

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One of the largest needlefish in the Atlantic, over 1.5 m, with a strong bill and quick leaps, it strikes surface lures over reefs and open sea. Caution: the bill can injure anyone in its path.

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