fishing forecast

ocean whitefish

Caulolatilus princeps · Latilidae · predator

Sea

Eastern Pacific bottom fish with a sturdy, blue-gray body that lives alone over rocks, sand and mud, usually at 24 to 55 m. Caught from a boat on the bottom with natural bait and jigs.

Also called: peixe-batata-do-pacífico, blanquillo, ocean whitefish, ocean tilefish

everything about the ocean whitefish where found

Scientific illustration of Ocean whitefish

common size: 40–65 cm
maximum: 102 cm
common weight: 0.6–2.6 kg
record/max.: 5.8 kg
depth: 24–55 m
ideal water: 14–21 °C

location

Sample location: choose yours to see the forecast for where you fish.

species

period

Reading the weather across 3 global models and 31 simulations…

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index Score from 0 to 100 for the fishing conditions of each hour. It reads weather, sun, moon, tide and the species' habits. It doesn't promise fish: it tells you when the water is on your side. 0–24 poor · 25–44 fair · 45–64 good · 65–84 very good · 85–100 excellent.

today

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confidence —

confidence How much you can trust the weather forecast for the day. It drops with distance and when the models disagree. It is not the chance of catching fish.

models and trend Up to 16 days, three global weather models (the European ECMWF, the American GFS and a high-resolution blend) read hour by hour; when they disagree, the light band on the chart widens. Beyond that it's a trend: 31 runs of the American GEFS model. Confirm when it's 1 week out.

window Consecutive hours with the index near the day's peak and no danger alert. It is the time to have the bait in the water.

hour by hour

tap or drag on the chart to read each hour · on a keyboard, arrow keys

see hour-by-hour table

why this index at —?

next 7 days

choose the day

chart: bar height = day's index · line = variation between models · striped = trend · fainter = less confidence

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 species

everything about the ocean whitefish

overview

who is the ocean whitefish

Ocean whitefish (blanquillo) of the eastern Pacific, from Vancouver Island (Canada) to Peru and the oceanic islands, rarer north of central California. Lives over rock, sand and mud bottoms, from 10 to 91 m and usually 24 to 55 m (STRI cites 3 to 160 m). It is solitary and digs into the bottom for food, and STRI classifies it as a carnivore. It reaches 1 m and 5.8 kg. FishBase lists it as a commercial and sport fish. For the angler it is a bottom fish, caught from a boat over mixed rock and sand bottoms, with natural bait and heavy jigs.

fun facts

Digs the bottom for food (FishBase).
It is one of the bottom fish with the widest latitude range in the eastern Pacific: from Vancouver Island, Canada, to Peru.
Unlike the snapper schools, it lives alone.

how to recognize it

identification

Robust, almost square body, relatively high head, steep snout profile and small mouth. It has a fleshy crest along the midline of the nape, ahead of the dorsal fin, and no barbel on the edge of the upper lip; the opercle ends in a short, blunt spine and the preopercle is serrated. The overall color is light grayish blue, with a blue stripe along the bases of the dorsal and anal fins, blue pectorals with a yellow band in the middle and a yellowish tail, deeply concave in adults. The Atlantic tilefish (Lopholatilus) has a much taller and more prominent nape crest.

distribution

where found

open on the large map

Not found in Brazil. Eastern Pacific: from Vancouver Island (Canada) to Peru (and to Chile, according to STRI), including the Gulf of California and the oceanic islands except Clipperton; rare north of central California.

Habitat: Rock, sand and mud bottoms from 10 to 91 m, usually 24 to 55 m; solitary, digs the bottom for food.

calendar and clock

when to fish

best season

time of yearbest: Jun–Sep

JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Fishable all year over mixed rock and sand bottoms. Warmer water from late spring to autumn often brings more fish on the shallower bottoms; in winter it tends to stay deeper.

best time of day

Daytime. Bottom fish that feeds by digging into the substrate; bites well by day, with the bait right on the bottom. No time-of-day studies specific to this species.

weather, water and behavior

what affects the ocean whitefish
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.

cold and cold fronts

Very cold water and upwelling change the depth at which the fish holds.

atmospheric pressure

A front with rough sea hurts bottom fishing more than the pressure itself.

moon

Moderate effect because of the current from strong moon phases.

rain

Little effect on the bottom.

water level

Not applicable at sea.

noise

Engine over the spot and hull knocking push fish off the shallow bottom.

wind

Strong wind makes it hard to hold the boat over the spot.

tide

Moderate current is best; strong current calls for heavy sinkers.

depth

From 24 to 55 m, and possibly 10 to 91 m.

technique, gear and bait

how to fish

Bottom fishing from a boat Natural bait on the bottom Jigging

rod: 6'6" to 7', 20 to 40 lb
spinning / baitcasting reel: 5000 to 6000 spinning reel or small baitcasting reel
line: braid 30 to 50 lb
leader: fluorocarbon 40 to 60 lb, 1 to 1.5 m
hook: circle 4/0 to 7/0

lures

metal jig 80 to 200 g
large jig head with shad
slow jig

natural baits

lula
sardine fillet
anchovy or mackerel cut into pieces
shrimp

accessories

sinker 120 to 300 g
descender (fish descender)
alicate

tip from an angler

Anchor or drift slowly over mixed rock and sand bottoms at 25 to 55 m, and let the bait tap lightly on the bottom: the fish digs and feeds near the floor.

what the law says

rules for the ocean whitefish

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: Of little concern globally, in an old assessment. We did not check national assessments in the countries on the entry.

Mexico: up to 5 per species and 10 saltwater fish per day

5 specimens of the species per angler per day, within the limit of 10 saltwater fish

In recreational sport fishing in Mexican federal waters, each angler may keep up to 10 marine fish per day, no more than 5 of the same species. The Pacific whitefish (blanquillo) is not among the species reserved for sport fishing (marlin, sailfish, swordfish, tarpon, roosterfish and dorado, up to 50 nautical miles from shore, item 0.3 of the standard) and has no quota of its own. Fish over the limit go back alive, and sport-caught fish may not be sold. Anglers fishing from a boat need an individual permit; anglers fishing from shore do not.

Source: Amendment to NOM-017-PESC-1994 (recreational sport fishing in federal waters of Mexico), published in the DOF on Nov 25, 2013, items 0.3, 4.3, 4.9.1, 4.9.5, 4.11 and 4.14 (Sagarpa/Conapesca)

Colombia: sport fishing has ceased to exist as a category; tourist fishing applies (Law 2501/2025)

Transition period: confirm with AUNAP before fishingconfirm with the agency

In Judgment C-148 of Apr 27, 2022, the Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional the rules that provided for sport fishing, with effects postponed by one year. Law 2501, enacted on Jul 28, 2025, created the tourist fishing category, and the rules (gear, quantities, minimum sizes, methods, zones and seasons) depend on regulations from the Ministry of Agriculture with AUNAP. We have not confirmed whether the decrees have been issued: check with AUNAP and use a licensed tourism operator before fishing or keeping any fish.

Source: Constitutional Court of Colombia, Judgment C-148/2022; Law 2501 of 2025 (Congress of Colombia)

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.

A bottom fish can rise with an inflated swim bladder: use a descender to return it to depth. Don't puncture the bladder. Keep the fish in the water as long as possible and release those over the bag limit.

in the kitchen

White, firm flesh, good grilled, fried or baked; sold fresh (FishBase lists it as a commercial fish).

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

total length (cm)

Length-weight relationship W = a·L^b (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%.

estimated weight

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sources and references

The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.

scientific FishBase: Caulolatilus princeps (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology and IUCN status. Page checked on 13/10/2026. The common size range on this page is an editorial estimate, because FishBase does not give a common length.
scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Caulolatilus princepsNames by country and language.
scientific Robertson, D. R. & Allen, G. R. (2024). Shorefishes of the Eastern Pacific online information system, versão 3.0. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute: Caulolatilus princepsDescription, colors, size (102 cm), depth of 3 to 160 m and distribution from British Columbia to Chile. Page checked on 13/10/2026.
scientific IUCN Red List: Caulolatilus princeps (avaliação global)Least Concern (LC), assessed May 23, 2007. Assessment checked in the FishBase entry (Red List, version 2025-2); the species' Red List link was not opened.
official DOF: Modificação da NOM-017-PESC-1994, para regular a pesca deportivo-recreativa em águas de jurisdição federal do México (publicada em 25/11/2013)Reserves species for sport fishing (item 0.3), permits (4.3 and 4.14), rods and hooks (4.6), bait (4.7), chumming in tournaments (4.8), daily limits at sea (4.9.1) and in fresh water (4.9.2), catch and release (4.9.5), closed zones, seasons and protected areas (4.10), a ban on selling the catch (4.11) and filleting (4.12). Text checked on Oct 13, 2026; the DOF records publication on Nov 25, 2013 and signature on Oct 14, 2013. We found no specific Conapesca federal closed season for this species.
official Corte Constitucional da Colômbia: Sentença C-148 de 27 de abril de 2022 (pesca deportiva)We checked the date and summary of the judgment, which holds sport fishing unconstitutional. The one-year postponement of effects comes from press reports on the decision; we did not read the full operative part.
press Agenda del Mar: Pesca de turismo, qué se aprobó y qué falta (Lei 2501 de 2025)Reports the enactment of Law 2501 on Jul 28, 2025 and the regulatory deadlines (six months for tourism and one year for zones, species, methods and seasons). We could not open the official text of the law or confirm whether the decrees have been issued.

don't confuse

similar species

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Bighead tilefish

Caulolatilus affinis

Bottom fish of the eastern Pacific, with highly prized flesh, considered a sport fish. It lives between 30 and 185 m, from the Gulf of California to Peru.

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Grey tilefish

Caulolatilus microps

Tilefish from mud and gravel bottoms in the southeastern United States and Mexico, between 30 and 162 m. It is sold fresh and is of interest to both sport and commercial fishing.

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Tilefish

Lopholatilus villarii

Deep-bottom fish of the Southeast and South, with a fleshy crest on the nape. Vulnerable: retention only from 40 cm, and fleet closed season in September and October.

Sea

time of year