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Illustration of Giant jawfish
fishing forecast

giant jawfish

Opistognathus rhomaleus · full profile

location

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period

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the species

everything about the giant jawfish

how to recognize it

Jawfish with an elongated body, a large head and a wide mouth. It is bigger than the spotted jawfish (Opistognathus punctatus): it reaches 51 cm, compared to 40.6 cm. It lives on sand and gravel bottoms, in burrows it digs. The size difference helps tell apart the two species, which share the same coast and have the same general shape.

Also called: boca-grande, bocón gigante, giant jawfish

don't confuse with:

We don't have tips on season, bait or technique for this species yet.

Where to look: Sand and gravel bottoms, where it digs burrows.

In Latin America it occurs from Baja California and the Gulf of California to the Revillagigedo Islands, in Mexico, and as far as Caño Island, in Costa Rica, on sand and gravel bottoms.

rules for the giant jawfish

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.

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

estimated weight

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how we calculate

Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00389, b = 3.12; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.

more about the giant jawfish

The giant jawfish is a fish of the family Opistognathidae, living on sand and gravel bottoms in the eastern Pacific, from Baja California and the Gulf of California to the Revillagigedo Islands and Costa Rica. It reaches 51 cm, more than the spotted jawfish, which reaches 40.6 cm. Like other jawfishes, it digs burrows and hides in them. It feeds on benthic and planktonic invertebrates. It is little sought, but is usually caught by trawlers and by anglers with rods.

Family: Opistognathidae · predator

fun facts

  • It is bycatch from trawlers.

similar species

sources and references (2)

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.

  1. scientific FishBase: Opistognathus rhomaleus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
  2. scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Opistognathus rhomaleusNames by country and language.