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Illustration of Blackwing searobin
fishing forecast

blackwing searobin

Prionotus rubio · full profile

location

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period

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the species

everything about the blackwing searobin

how to recognize it

Large, armored head with bony plates and spines, typical of the searobins of the family Triglidae, which also have large pectoral fins. The popular name, asa-negra, points to dark fins. It lives in shallow bays and estuaries and on the middle shelf, in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, where it shares the habitat with the horned searobin (Bellator militaris), which is much smaller and has males with very long dorsal spines.

Also called: cabrinha-de-asa-negra, rubio aletinegra, espátula aletinegra, blackwing searobin

don't confuse with:

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

Where to look: Bays, estuaries and middle shelf, usually 11 to 13 m, on demersal bottoms.

In Latin America it occurs in Cuba and Mexico, in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.

rules for the blackwing searobin

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 = 0.00589, b = 3.09; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.

more about the blackwing searobin

Searobin of the family Triglidae, reaching 30 cm. It lives in bays, estuaries and the middle shelf, usually at 11 to 13 m, on demersal bottoms. It occurs from North Carolina, USA, to Cuba, and also in the northern Gulf of Mexico, to Texas. In Latin America it appears in Cuba and Mexico. It has a commercial fishery and is rarely fished on rod. Like other searobins, it has a large head with bony plates and spines.

Family: Triglidae · predator

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: Prionotus rubio (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 Prionotus rubioNames by country and language.