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Illustration of Spotfin goby
fishing forecast

spotfin goby

Oxyurichthys stigmalophius · full profile

location

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period

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the species

everything about the spotfin goby

how to recognize it

A small goby, with pelvic fins joined in a suction disc, a general trait of the family. The mark that gives it its name is a spotted fin, as the popular names say. It looks like the light-backed goby (Gobulus myersi), which lives in the same region and has similar habits; the spotted fin is what separates the two.

Also called: gobião-de-nadadeira-manchada, gobio manchado, spotfin goby

don't confuse with:

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

Where to look: Sand and mud bottoms near reefs, 2 to 60 m.

In Latin America it occurs in Mexico, Belize, Cuba, Guyana, Suriname and Puerto Rico.

rules for the spotfin goby

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 = 0.00708, b = 3.07; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.

more about the spotfin goby

A fish of the family Gobiidae, the gobies. It reaches 16.5 cm and lives on sand and mud bottoms near reefs, from 2 to 60 m. It occurs from Florida and the Bahamas to the southern Gulf of Mexico, in the Caribbean, down to Suriname. It is caught commercially and sold for aquariums. It shares its burrow with alpheid shrimp, and since it lives hidden on the bottom it is of no importance for sport fishing.

Family: Gobiidae · omnivore

fun facts

  • It shares its burrow with alpheid shrimp.

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: Oxyurichthys stigmalophius (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 Oxyurichthys stigmalophiusNames by country and language.