shortnose spurdog
Squalus megalops · Squalidae · predator
Bottom shark of the slope and outer shelf, reaching 72 cm, also caught on the line. It has a spine in front of the first dorsal fin.
Also called: cação-bagre, galludo, pinchudo, shortnose spurdog
- maximum
- 72 cm
- depth
- 80–300 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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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 shortnose spurdog
who is the shortnose spurdog
The catfish shark belongs to the family Squalidae and reaches 72 cm. It lives on or near the bottom, on outer shelves and slopes, usually from 80 to 300 m deep. It often forms groups separated by sex. It feeds on bony fish, shrimp and other crustaceans, cephalopods and other sharks. It is ovoviviparous, with 2 to 4 pups per litter, after a gestation of about two years, and is born at 20 to 24 cm. Its meat is eaten, mostly dried, salted or smoked, but also fresh. It is caught by commercial fishing and sometimes by recreational fishing.
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 shortnose spurdog; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Gestation lasts about two years.
identification
Small shark with a short, angular snout and a small mouth, almost as wide as the snout is long. The back is bronze-grey and the underside is white. The tips of the dorsal fins are black with white edges, marks that fade in adults. It has no spots. The spine of the first dorsal fin sits above the pectorals, which calls for care in handling. To separate it from the longnose dogfish, Squalus blainville, note its short, angular snout.
where found
Recorded in Uruguay, on outer shelves and slopes, usually 80 to 300 m deep. There is doubt about what this species really is, because records from several regions may combine similar species.
Habitat: Outer shelves and slopes, on or near the bottom, 80 to 300 m deep.
rules for the shortnose spurdog
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. 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.
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.
Shark with no serious danger, but it has a spine in front of the first dorsal fin that can cut. Hold it with care and release it with minimal handling.
in the kitchen
Its meat is eaten, mostly dried, salted or smoked, but also fresh.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00407, b = 3.06; 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: Squalus megalops (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Squalus megalopsNames by country and language.
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: