spotted goatfish
Pseudupeneus maculatus · Mullidae · predator
Goatfish of shallow reefs, from the coast of New Jersey to Santa Catarina. Its flesh is prized, but there are reports of ciguatera.
Also called: beija-moça, canaiú, pirametara, salmonete colorado, spotted goatfish
- maximum
- 30 cm
- depth
- 0–35 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…
—
hour by hour
slide your finger or mouse over the chart to see each hoursee 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 spotted goatfish
who is the spotted goatfish
Goatfish of the family Mullidae, from shallow reefs and sand and rock bottoms, from the surface down to 35 m. Juveniles tend to stay in seagrass beds, and adults live over reefs and rocky bottoms. It reaches 30 cm. It feeds on small bottom invertebrates. The species is sold for aquariums and also eaten, with much-prized flesh sold fresh and frozen. It occurs from Mexico and the Caribbean to Santa Catarina, Brazil.
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 goatfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Goatfish with a spindle-shaped body, with two barbels on the chin, like all goatfish, and three large dark blotches under the dorsal fins. The scales on the back have reddish or brownish-yellow edges and pale blue centers, and the head has diagonal blue lines. It can change its pattern and show large red blotches on the head and body in under a minute. Compare with Upeneus parvus, from the same area, which has oblique dark bands on the tail.
where found
In Latin America it occurs from Mexico and the Caribbean to Santa Catarina, Brazil, on reefs and shallow bottoms along the whole Brazilian coast.
Habitat: Shallow reefs and sand and rock bottoms, 0 to 35 m, with juveniles in seagrass.
coast
rules for the spotted goatfish
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.
The spines are not dangerous, but there are reports of ciguatera, so the main care is about eating it. Release it carefully, holding it by the body.
in the kitchen
The flesh is much prized and sold fresh and frozen. There are reports of ciguatera poisoning, so care is needed when eating it.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01047, b = 3.1; 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
—
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: Pseudupeneus maculatus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Pseudupeneus maculatusNames 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: