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Illustration of Blackeye goby
fishing forecast

blackeye goby

Rhinogobiops nicholsii · full profile

location

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period

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the species

everything about the blackeye goby

how to recognize it

Spindle-shaped body with a rounded caudal fin. During spawning, adult males show a black ventral disc, which they raise from the bottom to attract females. They live hidden in burrows and among rocks, but juveniles may be found far from shore, among plankton. No distinctive color or mark is recorded, so habitat helps: sandy bottom near rocks, from the intertidal zone down to 106 m.

Also called: gobião-olho-preto, gobião, gobio triste, Blackeye goby

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

Where to look: Sandy bottom near rocks, from the intertidal zone down to 106 m.

In Latin America, only in Mexico, as far as central Baja California. The species ranges from British Columbia, Canada.

rules for the blackeye 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 = 0.01023, b = 3.01; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.

more about the blackeye goby

The blackeye goby belongs to the family Gobiidae and reaches 15 cm. It lives in the eastern Pacific, from British Columbia, Canada, to central Baja California, Mexico, on sand bottoms near rocks, from the intertidal zone down to 106 m. It has a spindle-shaped body and hides among rocks or in holes when approached. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite: born female, it can change into male, and forms groups with one male and several smaller females. Spawning takes place from April to October, and the male guards the eggs in the nest. It has commercial use, including for aquariums.

Family: Gobiidae · omnivore

fun facts

  • The change of sex, from female to male, is completed in less than 5 months.
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: Rhinogobiops nicholsii (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 Rhinogobiops nicholsiiNames by country and language.