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Illustration of Paleback goby
fishing forecast

paleback goby

Gobulus myersi · full profile

location

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period

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the species

everything about the paleback goby

how to recognize it

A small, secretive fish of the goby family, with pelvic fins joined in a suction disc, a general trait of the family. It lives on sand bottoms near rocks and corals. It looks like the spotfin goby (Oxyurichthys stigmalophius), which lives in the same region and shares burrows with shrimp. The spotted fin is what separates the two.

Also called: gobião-dorso-claro, gobião, paleback goby

don't confuse with:

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

Where to look: Sand bottoms near rocks and corals, 0 to 50 m.

In Latin America it occurs in Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil, as far as Rio de Janeiro, on sand bottoms near rocks and corals.

coast

Northeast CoastSoutheast Coastcoastal

rules for the paleback 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.

Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).

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 = 0.00741, 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 paleback goby

The light-backed goby is a fish of the family Gobiidae, the gobies. It reaches 15 cm and lives on reefs and sand bottoms near rocks and corals, from 0 to 50 m. It is a cryptic fish, meaning it hides and is rarely seen. It occurs from southern Florida and the Bahamas to Rio de Janeiro, including Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela. It is of no importance for sport fishing.

Family: Gobiidae · omnivore

fun facts

  • It is sold for aquariums.

similar species

sources and references (3)

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: Gobulus myersi (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 Gobulus myersiNames by country and language.
  3. official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.