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Illustration of Finespotted jawfish
fishing forecast

finespotted jawfish

Opistognathus punctatus · full profile

location

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period

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the species

everything about the finespotted jawfish

how to recognize it

Elongated body and large head, with a wide mouth, typical of jawfish. The name suggests a body covered in fine dots. On the same coast, the giant jawfish (Opistognathus rhomaleus) is larger, reaching 51 cm, and lives on sand and gravel bottoms. The size thus helps tell apart the two species, which share the same general shape.

Also called: boca-grande, bocón punteado, finespotted jawfish

don't confuse with:

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

Where to look: Sandy bottom, usually from 50 to 90 m, where it digs burrows.

In Latin America it ranges from Magdalena Bay, in Baja California, to Panama, passing through the Gulf of California and Central America.

when to fish

best time of day

0h6h12h18h sunrise ~6amsunset ~6pm

Nighttime. It is a nocturnal species that cleans and digs its own burrow.

rules for the finespotted 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 finespotted jawfish

The spotted jawfish is a fish of the family Opistognathidae, with a large head and wide mouth, living on sandy bottoms in the eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California to Panama. It is usually found between 50 and 90 m deep. It is a nocturnal species that digs and cleans its own burrow, where it hides. It feeds on small fish, crustaceans and other invertebrates. It reaches 40.6 cm and 1.1 kg. It can be caught with a rod, but has little commercial interest, and is also sold for aquariums.

Family: Opistognathidae · predator

fun facts

  • It cleans and digs its own burrow, keeping it tidy.

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 punctatus (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 punctatusNames by country and language.