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fishing forecast

sicklefin smooth-hound

Mustelus lunulatus · Triakidae · predator

SeaIUCN global: NT · near threatenedessential profile

Pacific smooth-hound shark, from southern California to Panama, reaching 175 cm and caught by commercial fishing. It is near threatened worldwide.

Also called: cação-falcado, cazón segador, tiburón mamón, sicklefin smooth-hound

Scientific illustration of Sicklefin smooth-hound
maximum
175 cm
depth
10–94 m
location

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period

Reading the weather across 3 global models and 31 simulations…

the species

everything about the sicklefin smooth-hound

overview

who is the sicklefin smooth-hound

The sickle-fin smooth-hound belongs to the family Triakidae and reaches 175 cm. It lives on the continental shelf, near the coast and out to open sea, 10 to 94 m deep. It is ovoviviparous, and pairs form with a characteristic embrace before breeding. Its meat is used for human consumption. It is caught by commercial fishing. It occurs in the Pacific, from southern California to Panama, and also off the coasts of Ecuador and Peru.

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 sicklefin smooth-hound; in the meantime, see the similar species.

how to recognize it

identification

Slender smooth-hound shark of the genus Mustelus, with no spines on the dorsal fins. The name falcado refers to sickle-shaped fins. It lives in waters 10 to 94 m deep, near the coast, and on the shelf out to open sea. In the northern part of its range it lives alongside the gray smooth-hound, Mustelus californicus, but the two species are easy to tell apart.

distribution

where found

open on the large map

In Latin America, it occurs from Mexico to Peru, passing through Central America and Ecuador, on continental shelves.

Habitat: Continental shelf, 10 to 94 m deep, near the coast and out to open sea.

what the law says

rules for the sicklefin smooth-hound

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 danger to whoever catches it. Hold it with care and release it with minimal handling.

in the kitchen

Its meat is used for human consumption.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00229, b = 3.14; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa pelo gênero e formato do corpo)). 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.

  1. scientific FishBase: Mustelus lunulatus (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 Mustelus lunulatusNames by country and language.
don't confuse

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