squirrelfish
Holocentrus adscensionis · Holocentridae · predator
A reef fish with nocturnal habits and a reddish color, which hides in coral crevices during the day and comes out at night to hunt.
Also called: mariquita, mariquita-olhão, jaguaraçá, candil, squirrelfish
- maximum
- 61 cm
- depth
- 8–30 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
slide your finger or mouse over the chart to see each hoursee hour-by-hour table
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 squirrelfish
who is the squirrelfish
A fish of the family Holocentridae (squirrelfishes), reaching 61 cm. It occurs in the western Atlantic, from North Carolina and Bermuda to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, and also in the eastern Atlantic, from São Tomé and Gabon to Angola, on St Helena and Ascension Island. It lives on coral reefs and nearby bottoms, generally 8 to 30 m deep. During the day it hides in crevices and under coral overhangs. At night it leaves the reef for sand and seagrass to hunt, mainly crabs and other small crustaceans. In fishing it appears on reefs and has minor commercial use.
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 squirrelfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- The species can produce sounds.
identification
Dull red or pink, sometimes with spots. The tips of the spiny dorsal fin membranes are reddish or translucent, never whitish. The spiny and soft parts of the dorsal fin almost separate, joined by a low membrane. The upper jaw reaches the rear edge of the pupil. In the Caribbean it differs from Neoniphon coruscum, which has alternating red and silver stripes on the body.
where found
Western Atlantic, from North Carolina and Bermuda to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, plus islands in the eastern Atlantic. In Brazil it ranges from Paraíba to Santa Catarina, and also occurs on the reefs of Maranhão and on the oceanic islands (Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll, St. Peter and St. Paul Rocks and Trindade).
Habitat: Coral reefs and nearby bottoms, 8 to 30 m deep.
coast
when to fish
best time of day
Nighttime. A nocturnal species: it hides in coral crevices during the day and comes out at night to hunt.
rules for the squirrelfish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
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.
The spines of the dorsal fin are sharp; handle with care. There are reports of ciguatera in this species, so avoid eating specimens of doubtful origin.
in the kitchen
Sold fresh. There are reports of ciguatera, so avoid eating specimens of doubtful origin.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01585, b = 2.95; 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: Holocentrus adscensionis (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Holocentrus adscensionisNames by country and language.
- 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.
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: