brazilian codling
Urophycis brasiliensis · Phycidae · predator
Bottom fish of the South and Southeast, a relative of the cods, with a barbel on the chin. Common in boat bottom fishing, especially in the cold months.
Also called: abrótea, abrótea-de-fundo, brota, abrote
- common size
- 25–40 cm
- maximum
- 58 cm
- common weight
- 0.1–0.6 kg
- record/max.
- 1.7 kg
- depth
- 10–190 m
- ideal water
- 13–20 °C
the right time
to be on the water
Choose the place and the species. The index, from 0 to 100, combines weather, sun, moon and tide with each fish's habits. Up to 28 days, with each day's confidence.
Reading the weather across 3 global models and 31 simulations…
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hour by hour
tap or drag on the chart to read each hour · on a keyboard, arrow keyssee hour-by-hour table
why this index at —?
choose the day
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.
the fishing month at a glance
what's the best window for the crew?
Choose how many fishing days. We compare each stretch by its average index, discount days with a warning or closed season, and show the 3 best.
trend for the coming weeks
Line: the middle value of 31 simulations of the American GEFS model. Band: where 8 out of 10 fall. Narrow, firm trend; wide, high uncertainty.
everything about the brazilian codling
who is the brazilian codling
The abrótea is a fish of the family Phycidae, a relative of the cods, that lives near the bottom on the continental shelf of southern and southeastern Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, usually from 20 to 190 m, but also in bays and shallower waters. It has an elongated body, a barbel on the chin, and pelvic fins reduced to long rays, like filaments. It is caught by trawl and line fishing and often appears in recreational boat bottom fishing, on submerged reefs and wrecks, mainly in the cold months. The flesh is white and soft, good for fillets and fish cakes.
fun facts
- The filament-shaped pelvic fins act as sensors to find food on the bottom.
- It is related to the North Atlantic hakes and to the cods.
identification
Elongated body, grayish brown with marbling on the back and upper flanks, pale belly. Small head and eyes, and a short barbel on the chin. Two dorsal fins: the first short, with an elongated first ray, and the second very long; long anal fin. Pelvic fins reduced to long rays that extend past the origin of the anal fin.
where found
From Rio de Janeiro to Rio Grande do Sul, continuing to Uruguay and Argentina; most abundant in the South.
Habitat: Mud and sand bottoms on the shelf, near submerged reefs, ledges, and wrecks; juveniles in bays and shallow waters.
coast
states
Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul
famous destinations
when to fish
best season
The cold months are the best, when cold water moves onto the shelf.
best time of day
Night and twilight. Most active at dusk and at night; at depth it also bites by day.
what affects the brazilian codling
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.
cold and cold fronts
It likes cold water; the cold favors it.
atmospheric pressure
A strong cold front makes the sea impracticable.
moon
Dark nights tend to produce better at shallow spots.
rain
Not very sensitive.
water level
Does not depend on water level.
noise
Not very sensitive at depth.
wind
Rough sea prevents boat fishing.
tide
Weak to moderate current is ideal for keeping the bait still on the bottom.
depth
20 to 80 m for most recreational fishing.
how to fish
- rod
- 6'0" to 7'0", 15 to 30 lb
- spinning / baitcasting reel
- 4000 to 6000 spinning reel or baitcaster
- line
- braid 20 to 30 lb
- leader
- monofilament 40 to 50 lb
- hook
- circle 1/0 to 4/0
lures
- 60 to 200 g jigs with assist hook
- shads on heavy jig heads
natural baits
- lula
- sardinha
- fish fillet
- shrimp
accessories
- 100 to 300 g sinker
tip from an angler
Use a two-hook rig with squid strips, right near the bottom.
rules for the brazilian codling
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 national list (Portaria GM/MMA 1.667/2026). We found no specific federal rule for this species.
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.
If it comes up from the bottom, the swim bladder swells: use a descending device and release it quickly.
in the kitchen
White, soft flesh; good as fried fillet, fish cakes, and broth.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00447, b = 3.15; FishBase (estimativa bayesiana, comprimento total)). 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 — Urophycis brasiliensis (ficha da espécie)Names, distribution, biology, length-weight relationship and references. Page checked on October 13, 2026.
- 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)Most recent national list. The species is not on it (search by scientific name in the text published in the DOU, checked on October 13, 2026).
- official ICMBio/SALVE — Ficha de Urophycis brasiliensis (avaliação nacional do risco de extinção)ICMBio national assessment, published in 2025. DOI checked on Crossref.
- scientific IUCN Red List — busca por Urophycis brasiliensisAccording to FishBase (version 2025-2 of the Red List), the species has not been assessed by the IUCN. Search for "Urophycis brasiliensis" on the site.
- scientific Cohen, D. M.; Inada, T.; Iwamoto, T.; Scialabba, N. (1990). FAO species catalogue. Vol. 10. Gadiform fishes of the world (Order Gadiformes). FAO Fisheries Synopsis 125(10). Roma: FAO.
- scientific Cousseau, M. B.; Perrotta, R. G. (1998). Peces marinos de Argentina: biología, distribución, pesca. Mar del Plata: INIDEP. 163 p.Printed work; the URL is the bibliographic record on FishBase, which cites this work for the species.
- scientific Haimovici, M.; Velasco, G. (2000). Length-weight relationships of marine fishes from southern Brazil. Naga, ICLARM Quarterly 23(1): 19–23.Length-weight relationships measured in southern Brazil. Printed work; the URL is the bibliographic record in FishBase, which cites this work for the species.
similar species
where each number comes from
The weather comes from three independent global models, cross-checked hour by hour: when they agree, confidence goes up; when they diverge, the band between them shows on the chart. Beyond 16 days, we use the GEFS ensemble of 31 simulations: if 20 of the 31 predict rain, the chance of rain is 65%. Sun and moon are calculated astronomically, with no uncertainty.
The index adds up, weighted for each species: time of day (species curve anchored to real sunrise and sunset), moon (transits, rise and set, phase), pressure (3 h trend and 24 h swing), water temperature (in rivers, estimated from air temperature; at sea, estimated by an ocean model), wind, rain, clouds, tide and the month in the species' cycle.
sources for this lookup
how accurate the forecast is
Accuracy measured in the reference project (4 regions, 93 days, forecast vs. observed): maximum temperature is off by 0.6 °C on average the next day and 1.7 °C at 7 days; rain of 5 mm or more is detected 76% of the time the next day and 57% at 7 days. Detection isn't everything: the false alarm rate isn't published here yet, and 93 days in 4 regions is still a small sample. We now also measure every day, at the app's destinations: