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Illustration of Blackline tilefish
fishing forecast

blackline tilefish

Caulolatilus cyanops · full profile

location

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period

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the species

everything about the blackline tilefish

how to recognize it

Elongated bottom fish of the family Latilidae, living at depths between 150 and 250 m. The Spanish popular names (blanquillo raya negra and paleta lista negra) refer to a dark stripe on the body, a trait that helps identify it. In the Gulf of Mexico and Florida there is also Caulolatilus microps, which is gray and mostly caught between 75 and 200 m.

Also called: peixe-batata-de-lista-negra, tumba, blanquilla, blackline tilefish

don't confuse with:

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

Where to look: Sandy and muddy bottoms, usually between 150 and 250 m deep.

In Latin America it occurs in the Caribbean and northern South America, in countries such as Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela and Colombia. Outside the region it ranges from North Carolina to Bermuda.

rules for the blackline tilefish

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 = 0.00832, b = 3.11; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.

more about the blackline tilefish

Latilid fish from sandy and muddy bottoms, which can dig burrows in the sediment. It occurs in the western Atlantic, from North Carolina and Florida (USA) to Bermuda, Cuba, Yucatán (Mexico), Puerto Rico, the Lesser Antilles, Nicaragua, Colombia and Venezuela, usually between 150 and 250 m but can reach 495 m. It reaches 60 cm and up to 11 kg. It feeds on invertebrates and small fish. It is oviparous, and its flesh is highly prized and sold fresh. Because it lives deep, it is targeted by bottom boat fishing as well as commercial fishing.

Family: Latilidae · predator

in the kitchen

Highly prized flesh, sold fresh at market.

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: Caulolatilus cyanops (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 Caulolatilus cyanopsNames by country and language.