spotted scorpionfish
Scorpaena plumieri · Scorpaenidae · predator
Scorpionfish of shallow reefs, with venomous spines that wound anyone who handles it carelessly. It is eaten in some places and sold for aquariums in Ceará.
Also called: baetinha, briati, rascacio, spotted scorpionfish
- maximum
- 45 cm
- record/max.
- 1.6 kg
- depth
- 5–55 m
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
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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 spotted scorpionfish
who is the spotted scorpionfish
The baetinha is a scorpionfish (family Scorpaenidae) with a robust body and a large, spiny head, reaching 45 cm and up to 1.6 kg. It lives on coral reefs and shallow rocky areas, from 5 to 55 m deep, and can reach 70 m. It rests on the bottom waiting for prey, feeding mostly on other fish and crustaceans. It has a venom gland linked to its spines. It has a small commercial fishery, is eaten in some places and is also sold for aquariums.
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 spotted scorpionfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- It shows the white spots at the base of the pectoral fin when it feels threatened.
identification
Robust body, with the inner part of the pectoral fin base marked by large white spots on a dark background, which show when the fish is disturbed. It has spines on the head and back and a depression behind the eyes. It can be confused with the aniquim, which has dark brown spots in that same area instead of white ones.
where found
It lives in the western Atlantic, from Massachusetts (USA) and the northern Gulf of Mexico to southern Brazil, plus Bermuda. It also occurs in the eastern Atlantic, at Ascension and Saint Helena. In Latin America it is found from Mexico to southern Brazil, throughout the Caribbean and on the northern coast of South America.
Habitat: Coral reefs and shallow rocky areas, 5 to 55 m, near the bottom.
coast
rules for the spotted scorpionfish
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 venomous: the spines of the dorsal fin and of the head carry venom that causes strong pain and swelling. Handle it with a glove and, if you are injured, seek medical care.
in the kitchen
It is eaten in some places, with flesh that resembles chicken, but clean it carefully because the spines are venomous.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01698, b = 2.98; 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: Scorpaena plumieri (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Scorpaena plumieriNames 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.
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: